Scott Eagleton might not have had the best seat in the house to watch Molly Bloom’s latest success, but it didn’t detract from the satisfaction derived from the star filly’s return to winning ways.
The Seaton Park principal bred and sold the high-class daughter of Ace High whose victory in Saturday’s Group 2 Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa may have been her final appearance in New Zealand.
“It was another huge result for the farm, even though we couldn’t get there,” Eagleton said.
“We were on a horse trek (at Katikati) and in the middle of the bush trying to watch the race on the phone.
“It was a huge thrill after the way the Karaka Millions ($1.5 million, 1600m) panned out for her, and it was nice to see her bounce back.
“It all continues to help the pedigree as she’s the first foal out of the mare, so it was great stuff.”
Molly Bloom was purchased out of Seaton Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft by trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott for $150,000.
She has now won four of her eight starts, including the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m).
High-profile Australian owner Ozzie Kheir bought into the ownership group of the filly ahead of her Te Rapa success and she will remain with Wexford Stables for the remainder of her three-year-old preparation.
She is likely to chase Australian black-type with potential targets including the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in Sydney and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in Brisbane before she joins a yet to be decided Australian stable.
Molly Bloom is out of the Iffraaj mare Dancilla, a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Decorah from the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Rough Habit.
“Dancilla was born here and was owned and raced by Alan and Colleen Jackson, who were one of my very first clients,” Eagleton said.
“Alan was slowly but surely phasing down his breeding operation and said to me ‘what am I going to do with her?’ and I said I’ll take her, so he effectively gifted her to me.”
Dancilla was a one-race winner before a setback forced her retirement and was sent to High Chaparral’s son Ace High for her first covering.
“I had bought a share in Ace High and really liked the fact that he had won his Group 1s as a spring three-year-old and loved the sire line, it made sense,” Eagleton said.
“When the foal was born, she was one of the tidiest I had bred and just stood out in the paddock.
“We took the full sister to Karaka last year, she is much bigger and was in Book 1 and failed to get a bid so we have retained her and she’s with Fraser Auret at Marton.
“The reason being is that the other two directors in the company, my stepfather and uncle Gary and Alan Thomas, are accountants in Taihape where I grew up and it’s nice to keep them involved.
“They love their racing and can go and see her and with Molly going so well it keeps it all ticking over nicely.”
Molly Bloom currently heads the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series and Eagleton is hoping she can hang on to her lead.
“Hopefully, she has done enough to be the Filly of the Year and further the family,” he said.
“Dancilla was in foal last season to Proisir, but unfortunately absorbed and she’s in foal now to Contributer so it’s all really exciting.”
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