NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Racing

Racing: Jennifer Eccles on song in Oaks

NZ Herald
14 Mar, 2020 04:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Jason Waddell and Jennifer Eccles cruise to victory in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Photo / Trish Dunell

Jason Waddell and Jennifer Eccles cruise to victory in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Photo / Trish Dunell

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

With a horror draw nullified by jockey Jason Waddell, the superiority of Jennifer Eccles shone through in yesterday's Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.

The daughter of Rip Van Winkle earned hot favouritism for the $400,000 fillies' classic with dominant lead-up victories in last month's Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic (2000m) and Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).

But Wednesday's barrier draw handed Jennifer Eccles the extreme outside gate in the 18-horse field, sending ripples of nerves through trainer Shaune Ritchie and yesterday's bumper on-course Challenge Syndicate contingent of 95 people.

They had no need to worry. Waddell weaved his way across the wide Trentham straight, and within 300m he had found a perfect midfield position, one off the rail.

Jennifer Eccles settled into a smooth rhythm down the back of the track, but she struck another snag when she began to improve her position coming up to the home turn. With a number of fillies rapidly tiring in front of her, Jennifer Eccles clipped a heel and stumbled.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But Waddell angled her into clear air, and the star filly quickly regained her balance and momentum. She soared to the front in the straight, and despite starting to tire over the last 100m, she cruised to an emphatic victory by a length and a half.

"It wasn't pretty at the 500m," Waddell admitted. "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.

"But, far out, she came back underneath me. I've ridden some good horses, and she's right up at the very top.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"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."

It was the third New Zealand Oaks victory for Ritchie, who won it with Keep The Peace in 2010 and added a quinella with Artistic and Zurella two years later.

"Every Oaks win is a big win," the Cambridge trainer said. "I love training these three-year-old fillies over ground.

"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.

Discover more

Racing

Exciting Levante steps up for Wellington Guineas

13 Mar 04:00 PM
Racing

Three-pronged Oaks tilt for Autridge at Trentham

13 Mar 04:00 PM
Racing

Glamour girl Melody Belle set for A$5m All-Star Mile

13 Mar 04:00 PM
Racing

Jennifer Eccles faces tough run in Oaks

13 Mar 04:00 PM

"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 2400m, especially after she raced quite aggressively in the Lowland last time, but she relaxed beautifully down the back straight."

Bought for just $5000 by syndicator Adrian Clark, Jennifer Eccles has now won four of her 11 starts and $499,650 in stakes.

The big crowd of syndicate members gave their pride and joy a huge ovation as she returned to the winners' circle.

Jennifer Eccles completed a runaway victory in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, racking up a total of 44.5 points. The only other filly to reach 40 points in the last two decades is the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Oaks winner Justa Tad, who earned 42 points in 2004-05.

With her domestic dominance so emphatically asserted, the final frontier could be the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11. Ritchie said a decision on any trans-Tasman targets could be made shortly.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

- NZ Racing Desk

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Racing

Racing

Waikato breeder's $1k mare turns first foal into stakes winner

30 Jun 04:59 PM
Racing

Sam Bergerson honoured with top awards at Entain Excellence event

30 Jun 04:59 PM
Racing

Why Ashley Dascombe's NZ debut was a race to remember

29 Jun 06:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Racing

Waikato breeder's $1k mare turns first foal into stakes winner

Waikato breeder's $1k mare turns first foal into stakes winner

30 Jun 04:59 PM

Simon Lawson bought Mohegan Star for $1100 on Gavelhouse.

Sam Bergerson honoured with top awards at Entain Excellence event

Sam Bergerson honoured with top awards at Entain Excellence event

30 Jun 04:59 PM
Why Ashley Dascombe's NZ debut was a race to remember

Why Ashley Dascombe's NZ debut was a race to remember

29 Jun 06:00 PM
Beetlegeuse triumphs at Ruakākā, tribute to Schick family tragedy

Beetlegeuse triumphs at Ruakākā, tribute to Schick family tragedy

29 Jun 04:59 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP