Avantage keeps Te Akau soaring
In what is becoming a familiar sight this season it was the tangerine-and-blue colours of Te Akau Racing at the head of affairs once again as the Matamata operation made it consecutive Group One victories at Ellerslie yesterday.
Quality mare Avantage gave punters another taste of her versatility and genuine all-round class as she took out the $200,000 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in her first start beyond 1600m, barely an hour after Cool Aza Beel had taken out the Sistema Stakes (1200m) two races earlier for Matamata trainer Jamie Richards.
The Fastnet Rock four-yearold had won one of New Zealand’s premier sprint contests just three starts ago when taking out the Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, while last start she scored her third career G1 victory in the Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m).
Some pundits felt a step up to 2000m could find her out, but the distance challenge never looked a factor once regular pilot Opie Bosson found clear air in the home straight, as Avantage dashed away from a quality lineup.
Richards is running out of superlatives for the mare who was purchased by Te Akau boss David Ellis for $210,000 from The Oaks Stud draft at the 2017 Karaka Premier Yearling sale.
‘‘She is just tough isn’t she,’’ Richards said.
‘‘We’ve always spoken about her constitution and her strength. We’re really lucky to have a stable full of quality horses and a wonderful team that looks after them.
‘‘These are the type of horses that Dave goes to the sales to try and buy and the results are there to see.’’
The win made it consecutive victories in the event for Te Akau Racing after Melody Belle triumphed in 2019.