Preposterous Avantage Black Type Points Haul

One would naturally assume that winning six Group 1 races in a season would set a Black Type Premiership key performance indicator (KPI) that's pretty hard to top. Even though that's exactly what Verry Elleegant (Zed) will achieve should she win Saturday's Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), that still won't prove to be the benchmark for what continues to be an extraordinary inaugural Black Type Premiership period. Including her Gr2 Apollo Stakes third, the addition of another Group 1 triumph on Saturday to go with the Winx Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Chipping Norton Stakes and Ranvet Cup will take her points total to a mammoth 85 for the season. But while it's true that'll probably put Verry Elleegant out of reach for the Australian Horse of the Year title, it's a lofty figure that's already been significantly eclipsed elsewhere by another star mare. During this season alone, in New Zealand, Fastnet Rock's daughter Avantage has already collected a staggering 105 points, albeit her Group 1 tally is four (Railway, Telegraph, CBD Group Sprint and El Cheapo Cars). To that can be added Group 1 placings in the Windsor Park Plate, Livamol Classic, Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (all runner-up) and Tarzino Trophy, as well as a win in the Gr2 Foxbridge Plate. With the exception of the Gr1 Railway Stakes, all of Avantage's achievements have been in weight-for-age company, reflected by a scintillating 92-point WFA points haul. That contrasts with Australia where the top four WFA performers are locked together between 45 to 47 points.

Avantage is all alone with a huge seasonal BTP points tally (pic: Race Images Grant Mathew)