Listing of Jennifer Eccles reflects booming online thoroughbred sales market
New Zealand Oaks winner will be sold on Gavelhouse Plus platform next month as auction company ramps up trade
The outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic just after the turn of the year in 2020 was met with uncertainty and pessimism in some quarters, yet throughout the yearling and breeding stock auctions this year the thoroughbred market has boomed in the southern hemisphere, and, in particular, growth in the online space.
In a move designed to take full advantage of this trend, it was announced yesterday that top New Zealand race mare Jennifer Eccles (Rip Van Winkle) will be listed on Gavelhouse Plus for their online auction next month.
The decision to sell the 2020 New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner and 2019/2020 New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Filly of the Year through the online platform was initiated by Cambridge-based bloodstock consultant Adrian Clark, who selected the horse and has managed her entire racetrack career on behalf of the Challenge TEN Syndicate.
“Jennifer has had some niggly issues as a four-year-old and I’ve decided it’s in the best interests of the horse and the big syndicate who own her, that she be offered to the marketplace via Gavelhouse Plus at this time,” said Clark.
With a number of buyers missing out on purchasing mares at the white-hot Magic Millions National Broodmare sale recently, the clever move has been met with plenty of positive reaction in bloodstock circles.
“Jennifer Eccles is something of a rare commodity,” said Clark.
“With so many mares of her ilk having been sold at both the Gold Coast and Sydney recently, a Group 1 winner who is still only four is extremely hard to buy right now.
“She is a delightful mare, beautiful temperament, well made and it should be noted that she was the leading NZ three-year-old filly on the 2019/2020 international ratings,” he said.
The mare, who was trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, is being prepared for buyer scrutiny by Adrian Stanley and Hannah Kettlety at Woburn Farm near Cambridge.
Gavelhouse general manager Haylie Martin welcomed the exciting addition to their offering.
“To get that call and be given the opportunity to sell her is a boost at this time of year.
“It’s perfect timing at the end of her four-year-old career and farms are bound to be looking for one more nice mare to add to their band. I hope it works out well doing it the way they have done it,” said Martin.
Connections of Jennifer Eccles have shown a leap of faith in the online sales market by choosing to sell their prized mare this way and performance figures of the platform during the past year would suggest it is a decision that will pay dividends.
The growth of Gavelhouse has been significant since it was established in 2016, with revenues growing almost 120 per cent since the 2018/19 financial year.
Other online platforms, too, have seen notable sales figures. Earlier this month, Members Joy (Hussonet) set a record as the most expensive pregnant mare sold in an online auction when fetching $800,000 in foal to Zoustar (Northern Meteor) on the Inglis Digital platform.
According to Martin, the prevailing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been an influencing factor.
Offered Sold Turnover
2017/18 FY 1043 760 $3,292,192
2018/19 FY 1082 747 $3,627,420
2019/20 FY 1446 1051 $5,106,974
2020/21 FY 1381 999 $7,117,526
In October last year, three-time Group 2 winner Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega) smashed the previous online record when selling via Gavelhouse Plus to owners Daniel Nakhle and Darren Brady, who bought out shareholders for NZ$1,202,500.
“We grew really, really quickly. The Kiwis were quick to take up the new technology and it plateaued at offering 1,000 horses per year, but over the last 12 months, we have offered closer to 1,500. I put it down to Covid, for sure,” she said.
Initially when the pandemic hit, many New Zealand owners and breeders were keen to offload excess stock and reduce their numbers ahead of foreseen tough economic times.
“It was knee-jerk in April and May last year, where we were getting bigger catalogues than usual. There were more people offloading and getting rid of the bottom end of their portfolios,” surmised Martin.
“On top of that, we swooped in and were able to help New Zealand Bloodstock run a few sales and host a couple of sales for a few farms in South Africa.
“When you stop and take a look back it’s been a hectic 12 months but also a rewarding one once you appreciate how many people you’ve been able to help, whether it be by cutting their costs or offering horses of the calibre of Spanish Whisper and Jennifer Eccles.”
Jennifer Eccles is now available for inspection, and online bidding for her opens on July 15 and will close on July 23.
“We were surprised, I didn’t expect this much interest early,” added Martin.
“We are certainly making sure it’s on the radar for major farms and owners. You would have to have been under a rock if you haven’t heard of it by the time the sale comes along.”