Trainer, Kurt Goldman, wasn’t prepared to commit as to the next assignment for his exciting filly, Eckstein, but based on the 3YO’s victory in Saturday’s Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes over 1300m at Eagle Farm, the $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara on 24 June could be her crowning glory.
“We’ll wait to see how she pulls up, so it could be three or four days before we decide as to where Eckstein runs next,” Goldman explains, “but both the Tiara and the (Group Two) Dane Ripper (10 June) are possibilities.
“She’s certainly been doing everything right.”
That she has. Breaking through for her initial stakes success in the Listed Mode Plate over 1200m at Eagle Farm in December, Eckstein won at the Gold Coast in January, backed up a week later with a brilliant third in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas a week later and resumed earlier this month with a fourth (carrying 60kg) in the Listed Denise’s Joy at Scone.
The Glenlogan Park was a big step up however as the filly was racing against older horses like Egyptian Symbol and multiple stakes winner, Sold For Song, both of whom she edged out in a thriller.
Eckstein has now raced on 10 occasions for five wins and two placings, accumulating $524,185 in the process.
Based at Goulburn in NSW, Goldman is the private trainer for former Australian Rugby Union player, successful businessman and leading owner, Alan Cardy and currently has around 35 on the books: the majority of them two and three year olds.
“There are a lot of new horses in the stable,” Goldman points out. “We tend to move them on fairly quickly if they’re not performing.”
That’s clearly not the case with his star filly who is named after Champion Ironman, Shannon Eckstein.
“He (Shannon) takes an active interest in the filly and was there on Saturday to cheer her on.”
Eckstein is by the all-conquering Yarraman Park based stallion, I Am Invincible, a sire that Goldman has already had considerable success with as the trainer of Inglis Dash winner, Hellbent.
Bred at the Middleton-family owned, Redbank North in NSW, Eckstein was sold by the farm for $50,000 at the 2014 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale before the filly was later pinhooked by Vinery Stud at the 2015 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale: knocked down to Cardy for $165,000.
Eckstein is the third foal of unraced Choisir mare, Comrie, in turn a granddaughter of the 3-time Group One winning mare, Canny Lass.
For Redbank North, Eckstein’s Group victory continues a great run of success for the farm, as stud manager, Dimity Middleton, reveals: “Redbank North has been owned by the family since 1979, but we’ve only been actively breeding for around 10 years and usually selling some six to 10 yearlings annually.
“It’s been a big 12 months or so for us as, apart from Eckstein, we bred and sold (Group One Vinery Stakes winner) Single Gaze, Singapore Group winner, Snitzel Spirit, dual stakes winner Grande Rosso and sold both (5-time stakes winner) Mahuta and the promising 2YO, Capital Gain.
“Eckstein’s mum, Comrie, didn’t get in foal to Mossman last year, but she’s likely to head to Xtravagant this spring … hopefully after Eckstein has won her Group One!”
