The 5-year-old Avantage turned in a tenacious display to win Saturday’s G1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and Richards hasn’t dismissed the notion that she can equal or better her barnmate’s tally.
The 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle is in the twilight of her career with two possible starts in Queensland to signal the end of her racing days before being sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale, while Avantage is far from finished.
Both mares share similarities with their abundant talent the obvious common denominator, but also durability and soundness other qualities they possess and that will stand Avantage in good stead in her future quest for top-flight honours.
“We just have to keep her happy, healthy and sound so I don’t see any reason why she couldn’t. She’s been able to do a few things Melody Belle couldn’t, like winning the Telegraph and the Railway,” Richards said.
“Melody Belle has had the drop on her at 2000 metres, but Avantage is a great race mare who just eats and sleeps and gets on with it.”
“Melody Belle has had the drop on her at 2000 metres, but Avantage is a great race mare who just eats and sleeps and gets on with it.” – Jamie Richards
Richards didn’t have the day he would have wished for at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships, although his representatives all ran with credit but were denied major rewards.
Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) finished runner-up in the G1 Moet & Chandon, Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabveel) was fourth in the G1 Australian Oaks and Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was a close second in the G2 TAB Sapphire S. after sitting four deep from the outside gate.
However, there was still plenty for Richards to be proud of at home with Group 1 success at Te Rapa and he also produced Feelin’ Fancy (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) to score at Hastings. While it may have only been in a Rating 65 event, it was one of special significance.
It credited the Matamata-based horseman with his 144th training success of the season to surpass by one the previous record haul of winners posted by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in the 2017/18 season.
But it was Avantage who was the individual star and was ridden aggressively in the early stages on Saturday by Danielle Johnson to sit in second spot. She made her move into the straight to ease clear and the mare dug deep under pressure.
“Avantage is a hard horse to get past and when she heard the other horses she kept digging in. She’s a horse of a lifetime for me,” Johnson said.
“Avantage is a hard horse to get past and when she heard the other horses she kept digging in. She’s a horse of a lifetime for me." - Danielle Johnson
“I got on her as a 2-year-old and have been lucky enough to develop an association with her.”
Avantage has now completed a remarkable campaign that had earlier netted her Group 1 successes in the Railway S., Telegraph, BCD Sprint and the Otaki Weight-For-Age Classic. Her only defeat was when runner-up to Melody Belle in the G1 New Zealand S.
Danielle Johnson
With Richards on-course at Randwick, his father Paul was in charge of the stable’s Te Rapa contingent.
“She had to do a wee bit of work early and she’s so tough. Danielle went wider on the corner to get into the better going and was left a sitting duck, but she was too good,” he said.
Avantage has proved most effective on top of the ground during her career and the pre-race question mark was Slow 8 going.
“The only query was the rain-affected track, she has never won on Slow ground before, but she is a very versatile mare and has got better with age,” Richards said.
Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) produced a stirring late finish from the back to narrowly edge out a game Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) for second with Levante (NZ) (Proisir) fourth. She had every chance, but was unable to find her trademark turn of foot in the straight.
