Cloud nine for classy Kiwi Avantage
Cloud nine for classy Kiwi Avantage by New Zealand Racing Desk Avantage does it again Image: Trish Dunell
Despite being delayed a week, the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) lived up to its billing as one of the races of the season, as plucky mare Avantage made it Group One win number nine with a thrilling victory.
The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old started a red-hot favourite in the contest that was raced at Te Rapa on Saturday after the Te Aroha meeting last week was abandoned after race three due to a slippery track.
Super seven G1s for Avantage, challenger misses kick big time
Super seven G1s for Avantage, challenger misses kick big time by New Zealand Racing Desk Opie Bosson helps Avantage win the BCD Group Sprint Image: Trish Dunell
In what most pundits deemed a match race between Avantage and Levante, it was marvellous mare Avantage who triumphed as she made it seven career Group One wins when taking out a superb victory in the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
The opportunity to see two of the best mares racing in New Zealand at present go head-to-head was thwarted when Levante effectively put paid to her chances when she missed the start by a conservative eight lengths.
For the lucky ones like Donald the greyhound, it’s Heather Cunningham’s couch. The successful racer was born and competed in Australia before being brought to New Zealand. However a tumble in a race knocked the confidence a greyhound needs to be competitive and Donald’s racing days were done. Cunningham was semi-retiring and wanted a dog for company, so around three years ago she applied to adopt a greyhound. “I have always had a thing for greyhounds because they look so elegant. They’re not particularly elegant, but they look it.
CHRISTEL YARDLEY/Stuff
Retired greyhound Donald enjoys nothing more than hanging out in the boot of his owners car.
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The Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) was the pinnacle event on a day awash with black type features at Ellerslie on Friday and it more than lived up to its billing as the heavyweights of New Zealand sprinting took their shot at Group 1 glory.
When the dust settled it was the red-hot team of Jamie Richards and Opie Bosson who combined with exceptional mare Avantage to take the spoils with a quality performance befitting the status of the race.
Up against a field that contained last year’s winner in Julius, former juvenile Group 1 star Summer Passage and the new kid on the block in Levante amongst others, Avantage showed why she is at the top of the tree in New Zealand, courtesy of a ten out of ten ride from Bosson.