Fastnet Double for Te Akau Racing

Tara Madgwick - Sunday Oct 8
Te Akau Racing posted a winning double at Riccarton in New Zealand on Saturday with two promising young gallopers by champion sire Fastnet Rock.

Avantage - Trish DunnellThe well-known tangerine and blue colours were carried to victory by two year-old filly Avantage and three year-old colt Age of Fire.

Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Avantage cruised home to score by a couple of lengths on debut over 800 metres.

Age of Fire was second on debut last month and then broke the ice with a head win in the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial over 1400 metres.

"We have a big opinion of Avantage as she has been very good in everything she has done so far. She will definitely take improvement from the run but she's on target for her main assignment which is the Listed two-year-old race during the New Zealand Cup Carnival," said Steven Autridge.

"I was also pleased with Age of Fire as he was ridden a little upside down due to the size of the field in the Guineas Trial.

"I think he's better when settled back a little more and hopefully he can show that next time up."

Age of Fire Age Of Fire holds a nomination for the Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on 11 November while Avantage will contest the Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes a week later, on the last day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival.

Avantage was a $210,000 NZB Premier purchase for Te Akau from The Oaks Stud draft, while Age of Fire was bought from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $400,000 from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft.

Avantage is the first winner for stakes-winning Zabeel mare Asavant and Age of Fire is bred on the magic Fastnet Rock Galileo cross being from Dragon's Tail, an unraced daughter of the world champion sire.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Mornington
A homebred for Seymour Bloodstock with an intriguing pedigree opened her account with a stylish win at Mornington on Tuesday.
Super Seth 3YO Leads Waller First Four in $100,000 Super Maiden
The $100,000 Super Maiden (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday delivered a first four for the Chris Waller stable with victory going to the well backed favourite Quarterback, who has a half-brother to be offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale next week.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.
Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week is Out of the Gate!
Celebrating 140 years of racing and thoroughbred culture, Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week presented by GROW Southern Highlands will span three weekends, from 19th November to 6th December.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Unraced Brother to G2 Winner Hope in Your Heart Tops MM Digital
Unraced three-year-old Dundeel gelding Putcee (Lot 4) topped the Magic Millions Digital (6-11 Nov) Sale which concluded this afternoon, selling for $30,000 to Liam Ruddy after 38 bids.
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.