Western Australia owner Bob Peters added another chapter to his success as an owner when Affluential (NZ) (Zed) gave him his first jumps winner from his first runner at Pakenham when he won the Ecycles Solutions Maiden Hurdle (3200m).
Affluential, trained by John Leek, also has the distinction of being a brother to the ill-fated champion Verry Elleegant, who unfortunately passed away in February when giving birth to her foal.
“That’s a great tribute to Verry Elleegant. Like her, he would run through a brick wall but on the flat he was a maiden,” Peters said.
“I said to John the time had come to put him over the jumps as he couldn’t win a maiden. That’s why I sent him over to him from here.”
Peters said it was a great thrill to have won a jumps race as he had always enjoyed that aspect of horse racing.
“I’ve always loved the jumps and I liked it when I was hunting when I rode.”
Peters said he had also noticed that another brother Verry Flash had shown ability as a jumper in New Zealand.
Affluential was sold by Grangewilliam Stud at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale for $140,000 to John Chalmers Bloodstock Services.
