Written by Richard Edmunds
A decision on a trip to Sydney will be made in the coming days after Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) capped a dominant domestic campaign in Saturday’s G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
The Shaune Ritchie-trained filly had scored spectacular lead-up victories in the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic and G2 Lowland S. in February, and she was expected to extend that superiority into the Oaks. Despite drawing the extreme outside gate and then clipping a heel when others tired in front of her 500 metres from the finish, she lived right up to those expectations.
Jennifer Eccles was aided by a masterful ride from Jason Waddell, who brought her across from gate 18 to find a perfect midfield position, one off the rail. He then guided her out of the skirmish at the top of the home straight and into clear air, and Jennifer Eccles did the rest.
She charged to a clear lead halfway down the straight, and despite starting to tire over the concluding stages of the race, she cruised to an emphatic victory by a 1.5l.
“It wasn’t pretty at the 500,” Waddell said. “She was going too well, and I had fillies stopping in front of me too soon. I was trying to move her out of the way and just caught a heel.
"She’s a super filly. I’ve ridden some good horses, and she’s right up at the very top.” - Jason Waddell
“But she gave me a great feeling when she sprinted to the lead. I knew she’d get tired, and she did, so I just looked after her in the last bit. She’s a super filly. I’ve ridden some good horses, and she’s right up at the very top.”
It was a third New Zealand Oaks victory for Ritchie, who won it with Keep the Peace (NZ) (Keeper) in 2010 and had a quinella in 2012 with The Oaks Stud homebreds Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Zurella (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
“Every Oaks win is a big win,” the Cambridge trainer said. “I love training these 3-year-old fillies over ground.
Shaune Ritchie
“Keep The Peace was great, and the quinella for The Oaks Stud was wonderful as well, but this filly looks like she could be every bit as good as them – if not better.
“Jason Waddell is unbelievable. From gate 18, you wouldn’t believe he could get across to where he was by the time they went past the finish line for the first time.
“She’s a spectacular filly and has a great turn of foot. We had a few questions about the 2400 metres, especially after she raced quite aggressively in the Lowland last time, but she relaxed beautifully down the back straight.”
It was the culmination of a remarkable campaign for Jennifer Eccles, which stretches right back to a second placing at Hastings on August 31.
Jennifer Eccles (NZ)
She then finished fourth in the G3 Gold Trail S., third in the G3 Soliloquy S. and second in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, prompting the tag of “New Zealand’s best maiden”.
She finally broke through in the G2 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day, and she has grown more and more impressive with every start since.
Now Sydney possibly beckons, and the opportunity to join Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) as only the second filly since 1990 to win both the New Zealand Oaks and Australian Oaks.
“After that win, I’m sure she’ll be right in the market for the ATC Oaks." Shaune Ritchie
“After that win, I’m sure she’ll be right in the market for the ATC Oaks,” Ritchie said. “But we are well aware that she’s had a very busy year. We’ll enjoy this moment and get her home, and we might make a decision towards the end of the week.”
Trentham triumph for legion of owners
Jennifer Eccles was bought for just NZ$5000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale by Adrian Clark, who has enjoyed a number of successes in his Challenge Syndications business.
But Jennifer Eccles has become a clear headline act, amassing NZ$499,650 in stakes in her 11-start, four-win career.
Connections of Jennifer Eccles (NZ)
She returned to a rapturous ovation from 95 syndicate members and connections on course at Trentham on Saturday.
“It’s wonderful for racing,” Ritchie said. “There’s a huge crowd of them here, albeit not allowed in the birdcage today. It brings such great atmosphere and colour to the game.”
Gold Bracelet upsets in Guineas
Earlier on the Trentham program, the G2 Carfinance.co.nz Wellington Guineas produced an upset victory by Gold Bracelet (NZ) (Pins).
Capitalising on a handy run behind a strong pace, Gold Bracelet and jockey Lisa Allpress moved out to the centre of the track and surged to the front halfway down the home straight.
The previously undefeated Levante (NZ) (Proisir) produced an incredible finish after missing the start by more than six lengths, but Gold Bracelet held her out to win by a long neck.
Gold Bracelet has now won three of her four starts for owner Jen Campin, who bought her for $25,000 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Gold Bracelet (NZ) as a yearling
She became the third Wellington Guineas winner for Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, who won it with Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) in 2015 and Scott Base (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) in 2018.
“We’ve won this race a couple of times before and know what it takes to win it,” Benner said. “We were pretty confident coming into today.
“Her work since she won at Otaki last start has been nothing short of brilliant, and that was a great performance today.”
