Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
In a stunning conclusion to the online auction, Magnier weathered a stern bidding challenge from Yulong to land the prized 6-year-old Fastnet Rock mare. Avantage was retired last week by her ownership, led by Te Akau Racing, after a brilliant racing career for trainer Jamie Richards which featured 16 wins, nine at the elite level.
She is the most expensive mare ever sold online, surpassing the $2.7 million (AU$1,938,000) achieved through the Inglis Digital platform for Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) in July.
Avantage | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
She is the third most expensive mare sold in the Southern Hemisphere, surpassed only by Sunlight (Zoustar), who went for $4.2 million through the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year, and record-holder Milanova (Danehill {USA}), who sold for $5 million by Inglis in 2008. Both of those mares also sold to Magnier/Coolmore.
In a serendipitous twist, Avantage ends back up on the Jerrys Plains farm where she was foaled in 2015 as part of a foal share agreement between Coolmore and her breeders, Willie and Karen Calder.
"We love Fastnet Rock mares, and she has won more Group 1 races than any of them. He is making his presence felt as a broodmare sire throughout the world and she is one of his best daughters," Magnier said.
"We love Fastnet Rock mares, and she has won more Group 1 races than any of them." - Tom Magnier
"A mare like her needs to go to an elite stallion and thankfully there are a plethora of options for her here at Coolmore, so the likes of Wootton Bassett, Pierro and Justify will be considered. We look forward to welcoming Avantage back to the farm where she was raised and grazed.
“Congratulations to David Ellis, Jamie Richards and the connections of this wonderful mare for what they have achieved with her on the track."
A battle royale
The tone of the bidding war for the mare as set early on, with bidding reaching NZ$1 million within 20 minutes of her going on the market on Sunday. After 24 hours, Avantage was up to $1.6 million, with two bidders going head-to-head and pushing her up to $1.8 million with two hours remaining.
With 15 minutes to go, Coolmore and Yulong entered the fray and the bids quickly pushed past the $2 million mark. In the end, it was Coolmore and Yulong who settled down to fight it out and they kept going higher and higher, smashing through $3 million and then through $4 million in a matter of minutes before Magnier landed the final blow.
For Te Akau Principal David Ellis, it was a milestone moment, not only for he and his team, but for the Gavelhouse platform and the New Zealand thoroughbred industry in general.
"We were hoping she would make NZ$3 million. We are just over the moon that she has gone to Coolmore and we have a great association with them. There is no better stud in the world, they are good people and we train for them as well.
"It’s great they wanted to buy her back, because she is going to end-up back at their stud where it all began."
Avantage winning the G3 Birthday Card S. at Rosehill Racecourse | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Bred to be special
Bred by the Calders, Avantage was purchased by Ellis for NZ$210,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2017, from the draft of The Oaks Stud.
Her dam, Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), also bred by the Calders, was a Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter and has produced three winning foals, including the stakes-placed Asathought (So You Think {NZ}).
Adding to the black type on her pedigree, Avantage's grandam Pins And Needles (NZ) (Pins) was a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed, and as well as Asavant, she also produced the Hong Kong Group 1 winner D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Avantage pictured as a yearling | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Initially under the joint care of Richards and Stephen Autridge, Avantage was a brilliant 2-year-old, winning five of her six starts, including victories in the R. Listed Karaka Million and the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S.
She travelled to Australia in her 3-year-old season, winning a G3 Birthday Card S. but it was back in New Zealand as a 4-year-old where she would resume building a remarkable Group 1 record. Her second Group 1 success came in the G1 Telegraph H. in January 2020 and she would also win the G1 Haunui Farm Classic and the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. later that campaign.
At the start of this year, she went on a four-race Group 1-winning streak, taking in the Sistema Railway, the Telegraph H. for a second time, the BCD Group Sprint and the WFA Classic. Her final racetrack success came in April's G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' S.
"We are just so proud of the job that Jamie Richards has done with her." - David Ellis
"We are just so proud of the job that Jamie Richards has done with her. To win Group 1 races at 1200 metres, 1400 metres, 1600 metres and 2000 metres, she has been a great mare," Ellis said.
Records smashed
It’s an extraordinary result for Gavelhouse Plus, whose previous record price was the NZ$1.2025 million achieved for Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega {Ire) last October. The result is also a vindication of the Te Akau team's decision to sell via the online platform.
"It’s great that a New Zealand company has been able to break the all-time record," Ellis said.
"New Zealand Bloodstock decided a few years ago with Joe Walls and Andrew Seabrook to start this company, Gavelhouse, and it has been a huge success."
