Jennifer Eccles Sells for $800,000

Media Release - Friday July 23

High-profile race mare Jennifer Eccles (NZ) has fetched $800,000 to the bid of Scone’s Kia Ora Stud on Gavelhouse Plus.

The four-year-old daughter of the high-class Galileo son Rip Van Winkle was an emphatic winner of the NZB Filly of the Year Series and one of the most dominant in recent memory.

Jennifer Eccles

“We couldn’t be happier to purchase Jennifer Eccles, she has a great pedigree, is a winner at the top level and these mares are hard to get,” said Kia Ora’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright.

“With things the way they are at present we couldn’t go to inspect her but our good friend Gordon Cunningham gave her a glowing report as a type.”

“She will visit one of our first season sires this year in either Farnan or Prague, the decision will be made when she arrives here at Kia Ora and we see her in the flesh.”

“She will make a great addition to the Kia Ora broodmare band and we very much look forward to selling her progeny in years to come.”

Advertisement

Bred by Peter and Sue Westend, Jennifer Eccles was trained by Shaune Ritchie to win the Gr.1 NZ Oaks, be runner up in the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com NZ 1000 Guineas and win at Group Two level on three occasions. All the while, she took her 60-odd strong ownership group under Adrian Clark’s Challenge Syndicates banner on a thrilling ride.

“I have no doubt Jennifer Eccles will make a wonderful mum and what an opportunity Kia Ora Stud will be able to afford her,” Clark said.

“I have to be happy with the price - she cost just $5,000 at the Karaka May Sale, won over $500,000 on the track and gave her big group of owners a ride they will cherish forever!”

Jennifer Eccles is now the highest priced horse sold online in New Zealand and makes a sound case for others with high-profile mares to follow suit “Hannah Kettlety and Adrian Stanley at Woburn Farm did a super job presenting her for sale over recent weeks and while we’re adapting and getting used to new ways of doing business, this is a niche that will expand in the future,” said gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin.

Currently online is a quality 55 Lot mixed bloodstock auction as part of gavelhouse.com’s fortnightly general sales. Bidding closes from 7pm (NZ) on Monday 26 July.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Breeding Partnership Strikes with She's a Hustler
John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia.
$10 million 2025 Golden Eagle Field and Barrier Draw
The favourites have all fared well after the field and barrier draw was declared for the $10million Golden Eagle at Randwick this Saturday.
Waterhouse Bott Stable Secure Fresh Blood at Tattersalls Horses in Training
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott may well have won a Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup this spring had their imported stayer Sir Delius (GB) not been ruled out following vetting scans, but the disappointment of that experience has in no way dampened their enthusiasm for the European product.
Famous Foal with Coolmore Stud Stakes Connections
The Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes this weekend is a race that has developed a deserved reputation as a sire making race and a foal image that arrived to the Breednet Foal Gallery on Monday is a colt with an undeniable connection to this pivotal race for the breeding industry.
Day 1 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale 375,000 Guineas for August George
Smart two-year-old AUGUST GEORGE topped the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Park Paddocks when selling for 375,000 guineas to Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali, one of five lots to realise 200,000 guineas or more.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 28
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Farnan Filly Wins by Four!
The Mulberry Racing colours were in the frame at Hawkesbury on Tuesday when the Brad Widdup trained Farnan filly Blue Eyed Brigid bolted in as a short priced favourite.
First Stakes Win for The Autumn Sun Half-Brother
The Listed Chantilly Grand Prix du Nord (2000m) in France overnight provided a first stakes win for blueblood Dubawi colt Azimpour, the half-brother to Champion Australian 3YO Colt and now G1 sire The Autumn Sun.
Aussie Bred Sprinter to Run in G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint This Weekend
Australian spring racing might appear to be the centre of the universe in our neck of the woods, but in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend it is all about the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California and an Aussie bred sprinter could be poised to spring an upset.
Debut Winner for Fierce Impact
Lovatsville based young gun Fierce Impact (Jpn) produced a tenacious debut winner at Swan Hill on Tuesday in the Seymour Bloodstock colours.