Top-class racemare Avantage has been injured and subsequently retired.The Jamie Richards-trained six-year-old, a nine time G1 winner, was favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings, the first Group One of the New Zealand racing season.Bred by Willie and Karen Calder from Bluff, the daughter of Fastnet Rock and the Group One performed Zabeel mare Asavant was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale.
A Group winner on both sides of the Tasman, Avantage boasted 16 wins from 28 starts, with a further 8 placings.
The $2.1 million prize money winner was raced by the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate and has won the most Group One races of any of Fastnet Rock’s 41 individual Group One winners.
A model of consistency, Avantage’s versatility was also one of her greatest attributes, winning at elite level at distances ranging from 1200m to 2000m.