Chief Stipe

Trust me Coolmore own zero percent. Just like me.

Yes but your world is a bit special. You could buy a share. https://www.teakauracing.com/yearling/lot-454-wootton-bassett-avantage-bay-filly

At least half of them.

I see @holy ravioli has lost interest. 🤔

How do you know that? Are you on the inside? Are you a bit lightweight?

So what's your point? I think it's interesting that Te Akau have connected with Coolmore.

LOL nothing to do with the skill level of the Jockeys relative to what's available locally?

Marketing what?

I'll think of something.

Not sure what you're saying. Please explain.

Avantage filly sells for $2.1 million James Tzaferis@Jtzaf12:35pm Te Akau Principal David Ellis. Photo: Trish Dunell The Avantage story came full circle for Te Akau Racing on Thursday morning when David Ellis bought the star mare’s first foal for a sale-topping $2.1 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Ellis bought Avantage as a yearling for $210,000 in 2017, before she embarked on an incredible racing career that yielded 16 wins, including nine at Group 1 level. Coolmore Stud paid NZ$4.1 million for the daughter of Fastnet Rock via online auction in 2021 and mated her with young stallion Wootton Bassett, the sire of Group 1 winners Almanzor, King of Steel and Woodeed that stood in the Hunter Valley for the first time in 2021. Ellis said Lot 454 boasts very similar physical attributes to her champion dam. “We’re just over the moon to have a filly of her quality to train,” Ellis said. “A lot of people don’t realise but she (Avantage) had her first start as a two-year-old in September, she won that well, she raced again in October, she won the Karaka Millions. “She won a Group 1 as a two-year-old and she won Group 1 races at 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 2000m – she was the absolute complete racehorse. “She’s an absolute dead ringer (of Avantage). “I thought this filly as athletic a filly as you’ll ever see. “If we want to train these top fillies you’ve got to come here and buy them and that’s what we are doing.” WATCH: David Ellis chats to JT about the Avantage filly.

Seems the top trainers still have a lot of time for her obvious skills.

Correct me if I'm wrong but a Kiwi bred horse who hasn't been through the Karaka sales isn't eligible either. I assume Crocetti fits into that category?

DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU - I said ARGUABLY the best 2yr olds in NZ won't be at Karaka. For a start all those bought outside of Karaka aren't eligible. 2 of the top 5 this season aren't eligible. Here is a list of the 2yr old winners to date - http://www.racebase.co.nz/t2yo.htm

I said arguably the best 2yr olds in NZ won't be at Karaka. A it like the best sprinter in Australia wasn't at The Everest.

Can you rewrite that post in some form of coherency?

So 'Big Dave' builds off his success in the richest 2yr old race in NZ? Mmmmm that's a novel concept. Who would sell off failure?

Not vehemently opposed. However these sweepstake and novelty races don't support the breeding of good horses. Black type still matters throughout the world. V'landys, Harvey and Vela are actually cutting their feet off. Anything that prevents the best from winning the most is detrimental to the breed. Arguably the best 2yr olds in NZ won't be at Karaka.

But there are a number of variables in play with that metric making bias prevalent and comparison difficult. At the end of the day I'd rather have my horse running on a nice StrathAyr than a Synthetic any day. Particularly one built on top of an Asphalt road.

I don't know what happened. But he was sold to the States and who knows what happened over there in those days. When I said the family was upset it was the fact they had lost a member of the family. I was a young fella at the time but in hindsight I believe he would have made a lovely stallion. Size and temperament, speed and stamina.

Kickback isn't the only issue connected to watering. It is also inherent in making sure the surface is not to hard as there is a relationship between the water, the wax, the artificial fibre and the sand that creates a cushion.