Cover image courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
Jennifer Eccles will open her 4-year-old season in Saturday’s G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings for the Challenge No.10 Syndicate, managed by Adrian Clark who revealed to TDN AusNZ that interest in the mare was sky high.
The Adrian Clark Bloodstock Consultancy Principal said so far all attempts to prise Jennifer Eccles away had been resisted, but admitted it was becoming harder to resist.
“I can tell you that we have rejected three massive and separate offers from offshore and we’re hanging in there. At some stage, she will have to be sold because that it is the structure of the syndicate.
“Whether that is at the end of her racing career or at a stage when the offer becomes so substantial that we just can’t turn it down remains to be seen. She will never always be owned by Challenge No.10.
“The syndicate agreement is such that she will be sold and it’s about picking the right moment and right now we don’t think it is. I have to say, I had one sleepless night off the back of the most recent offer, which was eye-watering money.”
“I have to say, I had one sleepless night off the back of the most recent offer, which was eye-watering money.” – Adrian Clark
Jennifer Eccles ended her last campaign with a facile victory in the G1 New Zealand Oaks off the back of equally effortless wins in the G2 Lowland S. and G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic to ensure her crowned New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.
She has earned just shy of NZ$500,000 and a stunning return on the NZ$5000 Clark paid for her at NZB’s National Weanling Sale where she was offered by breeder Westend Partnership.
It was partly through disappointment at a previous sale at Karaka that Clark was in the market and settled on the filly out of four-time winner and stakes performer Platinum Elle (NZ) (Elnadim {USA}), who is from the family of former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago).
Jennifer Eccles (NZ)
“I do buy weanlings and this one was caused by getting outbid at the yearling sales so often on horses that I wanted to buy,” the Cambridge-based agent said.
“That particular year, I decided to have a different strategy and go and buy two weanling fillies and farm them through for six months and then put them into a syndicate.
“It was a first for Challenge, but I have bought weanlings previously for myself and for clients. Interestingly enough, I did it again this year and bought a filly by Preferment, which I’ve done on exactly the same basis and will farm her through and launch her in December.”
“It was a first for Challenge, but I have bought weanlings previously for myself and for clients.” – Adrian Clark
Offered by Milan Park, she was secured for NZ$6000 and is a half-sister to stakes winner Sureasyouwereborn (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) with their dam Grey Swallow (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), who was twice successful.
Challenge Syndications was established in 2012 and has purchased and raced the winners of 13 Group or Listed races, 15 winners and three placegetters from 19 representatives.
Star of the show
The Shaune Ritchie-trained Jennifer Eccles has been the star of the show and off the back of two trial outings, the last one resulting in victory over 1200 metres at Ruakaka, is ready to kick off her spring campaign.
“It’s been a while since the Oaks and I’ve been monitoring her preparation closely and went up for both of her trials and go to the track regularly,” Clark said.
“Shaune and I have a really good working relationship where we can talk our options through and look at any road blocks we’ve had along the way, like track conditions, and think outside the square a bit to give us the best possible opportunities.
“It’s fair to say people won’t see a massively different horse when she fronts up on Saturday. She’s never been a big, robust horse. She hasn’t developed in any way significantly, but I don’t think she really needs to.
“Since the second trial at Ruakaka she’s clicked into that, for want of a better word, aggressive mode. She’s ready to go, but she’s not at peak yet.”
Watch: Jennifer Eccles (NZ) trial
The future direction of Jennifer Eccles’ campaign will be determined after a return to Hastings for the G1 Windsor Park over a mile on October 3.
“We’ll get through the first two races and then we’ll decide if we go to Australia and, if invited, have a go at the G1 Cox Plate or a race like the G1 Mackinnon S. or perhaps the mile (G1 Empire Rose S.) that Melody Belle won last year,” Clark said.
“There’s numerous options and if she did really well in the first two legs of the Triple Crown series do we consider going to the third leg, the G1 Livamol Classic? We’ll make those decisions post the Windsor Park.”
