Canterbury sprinter Our Echo will make the trip across the Cook Strait once more this week to take his place in the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday.
The seven-year-old gelding has recorded two of his six wins at the Upper Hutt track, including his last start heroics in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m).
That result may have come as a bit of a surprise to punters, but not trainer and part-owner Danny Frye, who has had a high opinion of the horse for some time.
“It (Lightning win) is what we have been expecting from the horse,” Frye said.
“He has tended to float under peoples radar a wee bit, but his last two wins have justified our faith in him. He is a lot better horse than people give him credit for.”
The son of Echoes Of Heaven is in a purple patch of form, having won his last two outings, and Frye is hopeful he can continue that at Trentham this weekend when he steps up to 1400m.
“We are up to 1400m this time,” Frye said.
“He did win his first start at Trentham over that distance, but in saying that he did get a soft lead that day. He has got the stats there to say he should go another nice race.”
Our Echo will jump from barrier six and will be ridden for the first time by northern hoop Joe Doyle.
“I see he has only got 54kg, I was pleasantly surprised by that,” Frye said.
“The only thing is he can get a bit anxious in the barriers and the odd time he has missed the jump, which has been detrimental to his racing.
“We have got a fresh rider on in Joe Doyle. From what I have seen and heard, he is a lovely soft rider in the hands I am pretty sure he will suit the horse.
“The horse is well and at this stage the track conditions (rated a Soft5 on Wednesday morning) are playing into our favour, we are really keen to be there on Saturday.”
Following his weekend assignment, Our Echo will return to Canterbury where he will have one final run before heading for a spell ahead of what could be an exciting preparation next season.
“While the weather stays well, we are going to give him one more go in the Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Riccarton and then he will definitely have a holiday after that, and we will look at spring and summer racing with him next season,” Frye said.
“If we are adventurous enough, we could even take him overseas next year if he holds the form we think he is capable of.
“We would have to change his training regime around, he tends to be free-range paddock trained, so we would need to make some changes so it wouldn’t be so much of a culture shock.”
Stablemate Aquattack will also make the trip to Trentham, although she needs a scratching in order to make the field for the Happy 50th Birthday Caryn Premier (2100m).
“She is capable enough, but she has tended to be a travelling mate for Echo,” Frye said.
“She has got another race or two in her, but we will be looking at retiring her next season.”
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