Nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), whose racing career was brought to a sudden halt on Friday after suffering a tendon injury, will be sold through New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse Plus in an online auction that starts on Sunday 19 September and finishes at 7pm New Zealand time on Wednesday 22 September.
Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis confirmed that the NZ$210,000 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale graduate, who won 16 of her 28 starts and $2.16 million in prizemoney, would be traded through the online platform rather than being sold privately.
By champion sire Fastnet Rock, Avantage is expected to command interest from major breeders around the world.
With the breeding season having commenced at the beginning of the month, a quick turnaround on the sale is imperative to get the well-credentialed mare’s breeding career underway.
A Group winner on both sides of the Tasman, Avantage boasts the largest haul of Group One wins of any of Fastnet Rock’s 41 individual Group One winners.
Out of the Listed winning Zabeel mare Asavant, who was also Group One placed, Avantage was bred by Bluff couple Willie and Karen Calder.
Asavant’s dam Pins ‘n’ Needles was a Group Three winner and is also the dam of Group One winning sprinter DB Pin, a star in Hong Kong.
Additionally, Avantage is a half-sister to stakes-placed So You Think mare Asathought.
Gearing up for the auction gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin recognises the significance of the opportunity.
“The team at Te Akau is one of the linchpins in our industry and we are all fortunate to have Te Akau’s commitment to the domestic scene. This is made even more evident by Te Akau choosing to sell Avantage via a Kiwi-owned company,” she said.
“Herself a Karaka yearling hand-picked by David Ellis, I know the team at NZB has taken great pleasure in following her career and it’s fitting she comes full circle to be sold via gavelhouse.com.”
“We cannot thank David, Karyn, Jamie and the connections enough for putting their faith in us and of offering her to the market in such a genuine manner as unreserved. It’s going to be an exciting few days.” New buyers to Gavelhouse Plus must register well in advance to gain bidding approval. Contact Haylie Martin with any bidding questions – haylie@gavelhouse.com or +64 22 6378127
