Avantage Closing in on Gr1 Double Figures

While Melody Belle (Commands-Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) may be the flag-bearer for Te Akau Racing having established a New Zealand record for the most Group 1 wins (14), her Jamie Richards-trained stable mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock-Asavant, by Zabeel) is herself closing in on a significant milestone. Although sent to the gates around $1.30 or shorter in Saturday’s Gr1 Weight For Age Classic (1600m) in the lone feature race at Otaki, jockey Opie Bosson had to work hard to ensure a fourth successive victory for Avantage who now boasts eight triumphs at Group 1 level and no reason to suspect ten elite salutes or more are beyond her. Gr1 Tarzino Trophy winner Callsign Mav (Atlante-Raadisi, by Volksraad) is proving to be no one-hit wonder, consistently troubling more fancied rivals as he added to his Group 1 performances with another strong effort. The $3,000 NZB weanling purchase’s card is also marked with placings in the Gr1 Waikato Sprint and Gr1 Windsor Plate. Avantage’s trainer Jamie Richards confirmed to NZ Racing Desk that the Gr. Bonecrusher Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 13 would be the next race on the card for the 5YO mare provided she progressed well from her efforts at Otaki. With stablemate Probabeel (Savabeel) currently campaigning in Australia where she is in red hot form, Richards also confirmed that a potential trip to Australia later in the autumn was also being considered for Avantage although no definite arrangements had been made as yet.