The name of respected British bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington has not appeared on the buyers list in Australia with any great frequency however she can claim credit for signing for the 2010 Group I AJC Oaks heroine Once Were Wild as well as the thoroughly game Ecuador.
While Once Were Wild (Johannesburg) was a bargain $50,000 purchase, Ecuador made it into the top ten most expensive lots by High Chaparral (IRE) in 2011.
Purchased for $360,000 out of the Esker Lodge consignment at the 2011 NZ bloodstock Premier Yearling sale, Ecuador has proven to be a sound investment.
He earned a third stakes win in Saturday's Listed Tatt's Club Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to advance his overall record to 10 wins and 8 seconds from 30 starts with earnings of $834,850.
Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Ecuador scored by one and a quarter lengths from the Kim Waugh-trained Shiraz (Zariz) with a further three-quarters of a length back to Peter and Paul Snowden's Gold Symphony (Reward For Effort) in third. (photo Steve Hart).
"The stable has done a great job with him," Hyeronimus said.
"Three trials into this campaign you might have thought he'd go straight up in distance but that's two wins at the 1400m now.
"All of his work has been spot on this time in. He's going better than ever."
Waterhouse and Bott have plenty of options with their versatile galloper, winning last campaign up to 2400-metres and adept on all types of going.
"He's running strong through the line, he's a happy horse and we're really delighted with the way he won today," Bott said.
"We may have to up our sights now over the autumn. Last campaign he had good form around the Listed and Group III races."
Ecuador is the second foal of the unraced Danske mare Bak da Princess a half-sister to Group II Waikato Gold Cup winner Bak da Chief (Chief Bearhart).
A year after Ecuador was born Bak da Princess produced his full-sister Pondarosa Miss who would go on to win the Group 1 Easter Cup and place in the Group I Auckland Cup and Group I ARC Zabeel Classic.
