Avantage out of guineas

LAST season’s champion 2yrold Avantage has been ruled out of the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton next month.

Avantage, the winner of six of her seven starts, did not pull up particularly well after winning the Gold Trail Stakes last month.

A bone scan identified a muscular issue which has ruled her out of the guineas, Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards said.

Avantage will have five to six weeks of paddock rest after which it was hoped she would return to the stable and track, Richards said.

Melt and Xpression now head the futures betting for the Guineas at $4 apiece. — NZ Racing Desk