Racing: Avantage claims victory at Karaka Million at Ellerslie

Avantage has won the Karaka Million. Photo / File

Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards struck the Karaka Million 2YO for the second year in a row when the favourite Avantage defeated Te Akau Racing stablemate Al Hasa at Ellerslie today.

Leading jockey Opie Bosson had the Fastnet Rock filly handy and she hit the front with 200m to go and then stuck on grimly to beat Australian Hugh Bowman on Al Hasa to claim the lion's share of the million stake.

Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard's colt Bocce, who set the pace for the race ran a game third.

Earlier, outsider Scott Base came with a withering run to head off off favourite Embellish and win the $1 million dollar Karaka Million 3YO Classic over 1600m.

Central Districts jockey Rosie Myers settled back in the race on the Dalghar gelding and on had five behind her as they turned for home.

Opie Bosson on Embellish had been handy early and loomed up to the leaders halfway down the straight, skipping a couple of lengths clear with a furlong to run.

But Embellish started ducking in as the effort told and could not hold off the determined sprint of Scott Base who picked up $550,000 for first place.

The winner was trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynard at Otaki and paid $22.10 on the tote.

The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards trained Embellish had to survive a protest to hold second place, while Ever Loyal, who finished third, getting relegated to fifth after also shifting ground in the straight, with Savvy Coup promoted to third.