Regally-bred Freshman sire Echoes Of Heaven made an excellent start when he sired the winner of New Zealand’s opening two year-old event of the season at Wanganui on Saturday.
The Duke Of Jazz scored an all-the-way victory in the 800m juvenile event, making the running and holidng on for a half-head victory over the favourite Savasava.
A half-brother to champion sire Redoute’s Choice, he won the Listed winner of the Port Adelaide Guineas as a three-year-old in 2011 and was second in the South Australian Derby.
The Duke Of Jazz (Echoes Of Heaven x Such Sweet Thunder by Belong To Me), prepared by Rachel Berry and Jesse MacMillan, was at $13,500 purchase as a foal at the 2014 NZB Karaka National Sale.He is a close relation to G1 winner Sharvasti (Avondale Gold Cup), and G3 winners Shastri (Hawke’s Bay Guineas) and Bhandara (King’s Plate).
• AJC Derby winner Nom De Jeu sired his first stakes winner when his 3YO filly Alcaldesa won the Listed Wanganui Guineas on Saturday.Alcadesa, from Sitting On A Hill (City On A Hill) is a half sister to Lord Turbo, who won the Wanganui Guineas two years ago.
Nom Du Jeu is standing at Fairdale Stud in New Zealand.