Avonbridge, a bay horse standing 16 hands high,[1] was bred at the Fawley House Stud in Oxfordshire[2] by his owner, John Deer.
[5] His dam, Alessia won one race as a two-year-old and became a successful broodmare, producing, in addition to Avonbridge, the Prix de l'Abbaye winner Patavellian.
Although his vendor was listed as the Fawley Stud and his buyer was given as the BBA (British Bloodstock Agency), he was in fact "bought in" by his breeders, meaning that his ownership did not actually change.
He started the 2/1 favourite and completed his hat-trick, taking the lead inside the final furlong and staying on well to beat Cumbrian Venture by half a lengths.
He raced prominently before being sent into the lead by Steve Drowne approaching the final 200m, he was headed in the closing stages by Porlezza but stayed on well to finish third, beaten just over a length.
He recovered from being blocked in the closing stages to take the lead inside the final furlong but was caught on the line and beaten a short head by the filly Frizzante.
Drowne sent the colt into the lead from the start and although challengers emerged he quickened "in good style"[14] in the closing stages to beat Porlezza by half a length.
"[19] Repeating his 2004 campaign, Avonbridge returned to Chantilly for the Prix du Gros Chêne, in which he finished third, beaten one and a half lengths behind The Trader and Benbaun.
Avonbridge started a 40/1 outsider for the Group One July Cup at Newmarket but ran much better than his odds suggested, going to the front at half way and leading into the final furlong.
He attempted to lead all the way in the Diadem Stakes at Newmarket in September but was caught inside the final furlong and finished third to Baron's Pit and Fayr Jag.
Avonbridge "flashed through the field"[21] and caught his stable companion Striking Ambition in the last strides to record his biggest win by a short neck.
His best runners to date have included Temple Meads, winner of the 2010 Mill Reef Stakes and Iver Bridge Lad who won the Prix de Seine-et-Oise in 2011.