Blueblood filly Avantaggia has earned herself a tilt at black-type following her victory in the Porirua Club Punters Handicap (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday.
A daughter of Wootton Bassett and Te Akau Racing’s former nine-time Group One winner Avantage, Avantaggia has borne the weight of expectation since a foal, which was further enhanced when Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis outlaid A$2.1 million for her at Magic Millions’ 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She broke through for her maiden win at the second time of asking at Te Aroha last year and subsequently placed at her home track of Matamata last month.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were confident of a bold showing on Saturday and Avantaggia delivered, scoring a half-length victory under jockey Samantha Collett.
“It was a good effort by Avantaggia and certainly a good ride by Sam,” Walker said. “She was positive out of the gates to take a position in third on the fence and she was really strong through the line.
“She has taken a while to build-up physically, but obviously she’s got a lovely pedigree and I think she’s only going to get better as a four and five-year-old.
“It’s really good for the owners to have her win two of her first five starts. They have been very patient and she’ll now get an opportunity at black type.”
That opportunity will come in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on ANZAC Day.
Meanwhile, the stable collected another stakes scalp at Riccarton on Saturday when stablemates Enchantment and Never Too Much quinellaed the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m), while later on the card Insatiable and Cognoscenti secured a stable treble when taking out the Angus Meats Open Handicap (1200m) and Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge (2000m) respectively.
It was Insatiable’s sixth career victory and second in open company, with the stakes performed six-year-old having won the Banks Peninsula Cup (1100m) in February.
“He’s just got to be held up for the last run and you could see how strongly he was travelling in behind them for Joe (Doyle, jockey) before he found a gap,” Walker said.
“He went back, rode for luck, and he’s got a short, sharp, sprint when you hold him up like that and get some room late.
“Hunter (Durrant, assistant trainer) and the team had him turned out perfectly and it was great to see him get his second Open Handicap win.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
