Belles Echo (Up-to-date Zealand) (Echoes Of Heaven) celebrated a successful comeback in her six-year-old season in Trentham on Sunday and prevailed against a decent field of sprinters in the Blue Star Christmas Cup (1200 m).
The daughter of Echoes Of Heaven had been a model of consistency in her final season, but was sent out for a contract by trainer Lisa Latta after a few uncharacteristic performances over the winter on unsuitable tracks.
Latta had her tested in peace at Foxton in mid-November to prepare for the open sprint competition, where she was underrated in the market ($8) despite an excellent track record with three wins and two minor placings from seven attempts at Trentham.
In-form front-runner Idyllic leapfrogged the $2.50 favorite and went straight into her usual leadership role, but The Stoney One was immediately overwhelmed and did not allow the mare any consolation in the early stages. Meanwhile, Ace Lawson-Carroll was waiting for the right time aboard Belle's Echo, still with everyone ahead of her at the 300-meter mark.
The Stoney One seemed to have the upper hand over Idyllic and Is That So were sizzling on their heels, but it was Belle's Echo who came down the touchline with a searing move of foot to keep them all at bay and score through the line by a length to Is That So in a piercing time of 1.07.62.
Latta stated that the performance was a surprise but was a very pleasing result for the stable.
“To be forthright I didn't really expect it, her coat isn't nearly as good and I thought she would improve a lot as the race went on, but she won very well,” she said.
“It was very satisfying to watch, especially after the two races at the end of her final preparation on really challenging courses where she just couldn't judge the distances.
“She has a nomination for the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) but she's not really an age-appropriate horse at the moment, it would be stupid to compete there. We need to go back to the drawing board and try to work something out for them. The most critical thing is really to bring in a black guy at some point in this preparation.”
The six-year-old is descended from a Woodbury Lad mare in Woodbury Belle, who was very successful herself on the track, winning 13 races and placing in the Gr.3 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) for Myles Oldershaw, who was co-breeder and co-owner from Belle's Echo.
Belle's Echo is putting together an impressive record of her own, with Sunday's victory her fifth of 26 starts and a stake of over $150,000.
Latta has been in the winner's circle before on the card Timekeeping (Up-to-date Zealand) (time test), a deserved first winner in the Pullman Melbourne City Center 1600 after a confident top ride from apprentice jockey Amber Riddell.
“She was really good too, Amber could be caught on the edge of the field and she used her initiative by going forward and doing some really gentle sections,” Latta said.
“She applied pressure when turning in and fought until the end. I think once she gets over 2000m she will be even better.”
Keeping Time is a mare co-bred and raced by Little Avondale Stud. She is a daughter of Time Test out of the talented racing mare Can't Keeper Down, a winner of four races and place winner in the Gr.1 Up-to-date Zealand Oaks (2400m). , Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).
