Our Echo has a well-documented love affair with the champagne turf and the Balcairn galloper will cross the Cook Strait again this week in pursuit of Saturday’s Listed Bramco and Granite Flying Handicap (1400m).
A day of high-quality racing and tight finishes at Trentham was topped off by another ding-donger in the last race as the favoured pair of Glamour Tycoon & Platinum Attack went head-to-head in the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Lightning Handicap.
Leica Lucy signed off the New Zealand stage of her career with a Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) victory that showcased all of the class and courage that has made her this season’s standout filly.
A last-gasp triumph in Saturday’s The Frac Club New Zealand St Leger (2500m) completed a rare Trentham double for Wolfgang, whose connections are now daring to dream of even bigger things next spring.
Taranaki trainer Robbie Patterson kicked off his assault on the stakes races at Trentham on Saturday with a bang as underrated mare Our Jumala prevailed in a titanic struggle in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m).
Unfancied filly Vegas Queen survived a post-race protest from runner-up Archaic Smile to collect her biggest victory after an incident-packed finish to the Gr.2 IRT Wellington Guineas (1600m) at Trentham.
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will take a trio of three-year-olds to Trentham on Saturday in search of a second straight win in the Gr.2 IRT Wellington Guineas (1400m).
