Eckstein magic on show in trial effort
STUD-BOUND mare Eckstein has shown she still has something to offer on the racetrack with a brilliant trial win at the Gold Coast.
Coolmore paid $750,000 for Eckstein as a broodmare proposition at the recent Magic Millions sale.
The winner of more than $1 million when trained by Kurt Goldman in NSW, Eckstein was transferred to Chris Waller for a tilt at the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday week. Eckstein’s best result in a Group 1 race has been her short half head second to Shoals in the 2017 Myer Classic.
Waller sent Eckstein, who was a last-start third to Savatiano at Eagle Farm, to the trials yesterday.
After sitting well back early, Eckstein unleashed a powerful burst to win the 1000m trial in 58.17 seconds, the fastest of the morning.
Tommy Berry made the trip from Sydney to ride fiveyear-old Eckstein and also rode Tiara-bound Savatiano in an earlier trial win.
Goldolphin’s Savatiano raced in a similar fashion to Eckstein, coming home strongly from well back to win in 59.01. Waller’s Gold Coast stable manager Paul Shailer was not surprised by the trial of Eckstein.
“She came to us in great order and our track work riders have been most impressed with her,” he said.
Eckstein, named after champion lifesaving brothers Shannon and Caine Eckstein, was formerly co-owned by former Wallabies winger Alan Cardy and fellow Sydney property identity Michael Wiener.
Together the pair had an apartment behind Northcliffe Surf Club where they regularly spent holidays. It is how they came to meet Shannon.
Late last month Eckstein was sold to Coolmore Stud for $750,000 at Gold Coast’s National Broodmare Sale.
Meanwhile it will be a light week for the Waller stable in Queensland with no horses nominated for the Ipswich Cup meeting on Saturday but the champion trainer is likely to have a large team at the Tattersall’s meeting a week later.
SHE CAME TO US IN GREAT ORDER AND OUR TRACK WORK RIDERS HAVE BEEN MOST IMPRESSED WITH HER WALLER’S MANAGER PAUL SHAILER