Avantage Makes It a Telegraph Double

Elite class in the race prevailed at Trentham on Saturday when versatile mare Avantage was at her very best in taking out the Gr1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) for the second year in succession. According to loveracing.nz, the Jamie Richards-trained 5YO had scored fresh-up in the Gr1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day to take her Group 1-winning tally to five and added a sixth as she defended the title she captured in 2020 with another superb performance. A good beginning from an outside barrier saw Avantage placed handily with cover in midfield under leading jockey Danielle Johnson before being angled into the centre of the track before bursting clear for a 2-length triumph ahead of Spring Heat and Burgundy Belle. Johnson, who would go on to finish with four winners on the card, has partnered Avantage to three of her Group 1 victories. Avantage's trainer Jamie Richards declared, "She's done a fantastic job for us and I would like to give her a chance to put a Group 1 in Australia on the board. I think she deserves the opportunity, so we'll have to sit down and make a plan on how we get there." Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $210,000 from The Oaks Stud draft during the premier session at Karaka 2017, Avantage has now won thirteen of her 23 starts, with ten of those at stakes level including her six Group Ones. One of 40 individual Group 1 winners for prolific sire Fastnet Rock, Avantage has won more Group 1s than any other son or daughter of the Coolmore Stud stallion.

Avantage won with impunity (pic: Race Images)