3 minute read
Daughter of Fastnet Rock lands Thoroughbreds Breeders’ Stakes
Despite being delayed a week, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) lived up to its billing as one of the races of the season, as talented mare Avantage (5 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant by Zabeel) made it Group 1 win number nine with a thrilling victory.
The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old started a red-hot favourite in the contest that was raced at Te Rapa on Saturday after the Te Aroha meeting last week was abandoned after race three due to a slippery track.
Avantage and jockey Danielle Johnson dictated the tempo in the race by sitting outside pacemaker Familia (Makfi) throughout.
Asked for a serious effort shortly after entering the home straight, Avantage stayed on bravely to come out a long-neck ahead of beat Coventina Bay (Shamexpress) and Travelling Light (El Roca), who dead-heated for second.
“Tough isn’t she,” said Paul Richards, who was representing his son and trainer Jamie.
“She did a wee bit of work early but got a nice drag along outside the leader and was just too tough.
“Danielle went a bit wider on the home corner to find some better going, which left her a sitting duck.
“To her credit she just toughed it out.
“The only query was the rain affected track as she hasn’t won on soft going before, but physically and mentally she was first class.
“She is a very versatile mare that has just got better with age.”
In winning the race, Jamie Richards broke the national record for wins in a season as Avantage became victory number 144 for the Te Akau Racing stable in 2020/21, eclipsing the 143-win mark set by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in 2017/18.
It was also the 35th stakes win in New Zealand this season for Richards, along with a further four in Australia. He has won 13 of the 21.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) was purchased for NZ$210,000 by David Ellis at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karka and she is out of Listed winner Asavant (Zabeel).
Asavant herself is a daughter of Group 3 winner Pins ‘N’ Needles (Pins), making her a half-sister to Group 1 winner D B Pin (Darci Brahma).
Avantage is one of 40 Group 1 winners and 171 stakes winners overall for Coolmore Stud-based for champion sire Fastnet Rock.
The son of Danehill (Danzig) is enjoying a lucrative season, siring 15 stakes winner in Australasia this term and Avantage is one of three Group 1 winners for the stallion, with the others being VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Personal and New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Rocket Spade.