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.
“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.”
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.
