Gavelhouse Plus Awaits Amazing Avantage

One of the most prolific Group One winners in New Zealand racing history will be offered on Gavelhouse Plus after an injury brought the curtain down on her amazing racetrack career. 

Avantage (Fastnet Rock), who was bought by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $210,000 at Karaka 2017, won 16 of her 28 starts and earned more than $2.16 million in stakes for the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate. The exceptional six-year-old will be offered on Gavelhouse Plus from Sunday to Wednesday night.

“Delighted to confirm that our nine-time Group One winner Avantage will be offered for sale on Gavelhouse Plus,” Te Akau Racing tweeted. “A rare and fantastic opportunity, as she can be bred from immediately.”

New Zealand Bloodstock managing director Andrew Seabrook added that the superstar galloper will break new ground for the emerging Gavelhouse Plus platform.

“We are thrilled to be selling her,” he said. “She’s the best mare ever to be offered by Gavelhouse and without doubt one of the finest mares to come up for auction, anywhere, in recent times. So thanks to David (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and Avantage syndicate members.”

Already the winner of nine Group One races, Avantage had been favourite for Saturday’s $220,000 Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings before injury forced her withdrawal.

“We’re all absolutely gutted about Avantage, but unfortunately this can happen in racing,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “We’d been very happy with her, but it became apparent (on Friday) that she had heat in her off-fore leg.

“We had the vet there to scan it immediately and she has a hole in the tendon and will be retired from racing.

“She’s been a wonderful mare who has achieved some incredible feats on the racetrack, and we can’t thank her enough for all the thrills and experiences she’s given us – a Karaka Million (1200m) winner and Group One-winning two-year-old that was named Champion Two-Year-Old, and she’s gone on to conquer all before her in an amazing career. 

“We just want to reiterate what a wonderful job she’s done for all of us in the racing industry.”

As well as her extraordinary nine Group One victories at the elite level in New Zealand, Avantage also won the Group Three Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) in Sydney and placed in the A$1 million Group Two Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) behind the subsequent Everest (1200m) winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt).

View Avantage on Gavelhouse Plus here.

Vendor	The Oaks Stud
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Fastnet Rock – Asavant
Sale	Lot 50, 2017 Premier Sale, $210,000
Bred by	Mr W Calder & Mrs K N Calder