$2.1million for Wootton Bassett Filly – First Foal of Avantage

The third session of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale got away to a flying start on Thursday morning with something seriously special selling for $2.1million to big spending Kiwi buyer David Ellis.

Ellis has raced a lot of outstanding mares under his Te Akau Racing banner with few if any better than nine time Group I winning Fastnet Rock mare Avantage, who found her way to Coolmore when her racing career came to an end in 2021.

She was offered through Gavelhouse in an online bespoke sale and set a world record for a horse sold online when purchased by Tom Magnier for NZ$4.1million.

Covered by Wootton Bassett for her first season at stud, Avantage produced an exceptional filly for her very first foal that lit up the bid board at the Gold Coast with a flurry of bidding until Ellis had the final say at $2.1million, a record yearling price for a first season sire in Australia

Ellis purchased Avantage as a yearling at Karaka Book 1 in 2017 for just $210,000, but had to add another zero to secure her superstar daughter.

“We’re just over the moon to have a filly of her quality to train. A lot of people don’t realise that she (Avantage) had her first start as a two-year-old in September and she won that well,” said Ellis.

“She raced again in October, she won the Karaka Million. She won a Group 1 as a two-year-old. She won a Group 1 at 1200-metres, 1400-metres, 1600 and 2000-metres.

“She was the complete racehorse and I’ve seen her foal at the stud this year. She is a cracker and the mare is back in foal to I Am Invincible so it has got so much upside and we’re just so proud to have her in the stable to train.”

The $2.1million filly will follow in her mother’s footsteps and head to New Zealand to start her career.

“She’s an absolute dead ringer for Avantage. We’ll take her back to New Zealand. We’ll break her in, assess her and have her ready to race in November/December,” said Ellis.

“This filly has terrific residual value and she’d be an asset for any stud farm (even) if she never races.”

Tom Magnier was thrilled to see the filly go to Ellis and hopes to see the relationship go full circle in the future.

“She’s just been special ever since she was born at the farm,” said Magnier.

“I was delighted for the lads, they obviously gave a lot of money for the mare, but it’s great when you can buy something off David Ellis and he comes back and buys off us.

“David Ellis is just different, the success he has on the racetrack, and then you get to buy a great mare like Avantage off him.

“I just hope for David and Karyn and all the Te Akau team that this filly does great things for him. You never know, we might be back returning the favour at the end.”

Wootton Bassett is finding favour with Australian buyers and had another big result with the next lot into the ring after the Avantage filly.

Longwood Thoroughbred Farm offered a quality Wootton Bassett colt from stakes-placed I Am Invincible mare Avenue of Pleasure that made $750,000 to the bid of Gandharvi Pty Ltd/Michael Freedman Racing, USA.

“He was a lovely horse by a sire I’ve got a lot of respect for and I’ll be interested to see what he can do down here,” said bloodstock agent Michael Wallace, buying for Gandharvi.

“He’s a phenomenal sire in Europe backed by John Magnier and his family, who are the smartest in the game, so we’ll just try and follow them in.

“It’s a big, deep family, a proper page. If he can run to his looks we’re in business, so we’ll take our ticket in the lottery.”

He is the first foal of Avenue of Pleasure, a half-sister to spring stakes-winner Hypothetical from the family of Group I winning juveniles Carry on Cutie and The Mission.