Matamata trainer Jamie Richards arrived back in New Zealand late on Saturday night with the knowledge his class filly Avantage had done all she could to secure her third placing in Saturday's Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick.
Successful in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at her first Australian run, Richards and the team at Te Akau Racing had been keen to find a suitable 1400m contest for the Fastnet Rock three-year-old but settled on the Arrowfield as the next best option for her.
After enjoying a good run in transit, Avantage couldn't quite match the acceleration at the top of the straight by eventual winner Classique Legend, but closed off strongly in the final stages for third.
"We did think she might just need 1400m for her second-up run and I think that showed a little on Saturday as she was off the bridle a fair way from home," Richards said.
"If we were going to run in The Championships for some decent prizemoney then the Arrowfield was our best option even though it meant staying at 1200m. As it turned out she went a top race and we're extremely proud of her."
