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Bidding to close from 7pm on Wednesday for nine-time Group One winner
The unreserved auction for Te Akau Racing's nine-time Group One winning mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) is now live on Gavelhouse Plus, with bidding closing from 7pm (NZ) on Wednesday 22 September.
Avantage first raced in October 2017 as a two-year-old, winning her first four starts, the fourth being the Karaka Million (RL, 1200m). She had a total of six races at a juvenile, winning five of them and being second on the other occasion.
Crowned Champion Two-Year-Old, she rounded off her juvenile season as runner up in the ARC Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) from a wide draw before winning the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) in March 2018.
Testament to her fortitude, the Jamie Richards-trained mare has been at the top of her game across four seasons, capturing another seven Group One victories while amassing A$2,001,714 for the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate. Her record stands at 16 wins and eight placings from 28 starts.
Strong Australian interest is expected, and with that in mind, space for Avantage has been reserved on New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight's next flights to Sydney and Melbourne this coming Sunday and Wednesday week respectively.
"Avantage's versatility was remarkable. She won Group One races at 1200 metres, 1400 metres, 1600 metres and 2000 metres. This indeed a rare accomplishment," said Te Akau Principal and her purchaser David Ellis who paid NZ$210,000 for the daughter of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) from the draft of The Oaks Stud at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
"In fact Avantage has won more Group One races than any other horse by Fastnet Rock, anywhere in the world – more than Group One stars Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen and Sea Siren."
Gearing up for the auction gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin recognises the significance of the opportunity.
"The team at Te Akau is one of the linchpins in our industry and we are all fortunate to have Te Akau's commitment to the domestic scene. This is made even more evident by Te Akau choosing to sell Avantage via a Kiwi-owned company," she said.
"Herself a Karaka yearling hand-picked by David Ellis, I know the team at NZB has taken great pleasure in following her career and it's fitting she comes full circle to be sold via gavelhouse.com.
"We cannot thank David, Karyn, Jamie and the connections enough for putting their faith in us and of offering her to the market in such a genuine manner as unreserved. It's going to be an exciting few days."
Wow, Avantage at $1m after the sale only opened 20 minutes ago. She is on the market and goes to the highest bidder @gavelhouse @TeAkauRacing
— Andrew Seabrook (@ASeabrookNZB) September 19, 2021
