Now trained by Chris Waller after being previously in the stable of Kurt Goldman, Eckstein was an unlucky close up sixth in the Group I Tatts Tiara last month at Eagle Farm at her first start for her new connections with that effort encouraging them to give her another start.
Ridden quietly by Blake Shinn from an outside gate, Eckstein hit the line hard
to win the 1400 metre contest by a head in a thrilling finish."She was very unlucky in that Group I where she drew wide and just had no luck so we thought let's try and have one more crack," Waller said.
"It's always good (to win). Tom (Magnier) is here, the rest of the team is here too.
"She obviously came from Kurt Goldman who has done a fantastic job with her career and I have been spoilt with being handed over the reins.
"It is an absolute privilege to be training her for Mr Magnier and the Coolmore team, whom I was fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with a couple of weeks ago.
"To me it was a real highlight of the year to see Ballydoyle and how Aidan (O'Brien) operates such a successful empire for Magniers and Coolmore group."
Waller indicated the stable may now press on to the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill in a fortnight's time.
Already a multiple stakes-winner and Group I placed, Eckstein was originally a $165,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Vinery Stud draft for Australian Bloodstock and has won eight of 36 starts earning in excess of $1.1million prizemoney.
She was a successful pinhook having been bought first as a weanling for $50,000 by KP Thoroughbreds from the Inglis Weanling Sale from the Redbank North draft.
She is the best of three winners from unraced Choisir mare Comrie, a grand-daughter of multiple Group I winner Canny Lass from the family of Group I stars such as Sepoy, Canny Lad, Camarena and Guelph.
Comrie had a filly foal by Sooboog last year and is now in foal to I Am Invincible's Group I winning son Hellbent, so will produce a three-quarter sibling to Eckstein this year.
A three-time stakes-winner this season, Eckstein is one of 28 stakes-winners this season for Yarraman Park's super sire I Am Invincible, who is fully booked this spring at a fee of $247,500 making him the most expensive sire in Australia for 2019.
