Town Echo flies NZ flag in $100,000 Group One

The New Zealand flag flew proudly at Albion Park when Town Echo (Art Major) powered to harness racing victory in the A$100,000 Group One Golden Girl (1660m) on Saturday night (Jul. 16).

It was an all-kiwi result when ex-pat New Zealand trainer-driver Jack Trainor produced the NZB Standardbred graduate for a big win in the mares feature.

Town Echo was offered by Hardwood Breeding Syndicate and purchased for $30,000 out of the Breckon Farms draft at the 2019 Auckland National Yearling Sale.

The mare put together a strong record in New Zealand, winning five races including the Group Three Leonard Memorial Stakes (2000m) at Addington in just her second start.

After making an outstanding start to her career in Australia, winning her first five starts at Menangle, Trainor had enough faith in Town Echo to contest Saturday night’s Group One feature. In addition, the mare did not disappoint him.

“It was a bit of a roll of the dice bringing her up, but she was fantastic tonight,” Trainor said.

“She won her first five starts for me and hadn’t been too far in the better mares’ races at home so I thought she deserved a shot at it.”

Trainor landed Town Echo a perfect run in the one-one throughout, before letting the mare down to produce a powerful finish to win.

TOWN ECHO REPLAY

The winner was clearly underrated by punters who sent her out at $81 odds behind the hot favourite Maajida (Somebeachsomewhere).

But Town Echo showed her class when defying those odds to notch her first victory at Group One level.

“When there’s a $1.20 pop in the race and you’re the outsider you don’t think it’s going to be easy but it just goes to show, that anything can happen in the race,” Trainor told Australian media.

“During the run I thought I was a strong place chance on how she felt.

“Full credit to my mare, she dug in deep and it was a satisfying win.”

Town Echo’s dam Cordelia (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) has been a popular producer in the NZB Standardbred sales ring.

Hollis & Robertson Equine Services have sold two full brothers to Town Echo from their National Yearling Sale draft in 2021 (Lot 81) and 2022 (Lot 45).

Breckon Farms offered a half-brother to the Group One winner at the 2020 National Yearling Sale in Cos I Can (NZ) (Always B Miki). The three-year-old has won three starts in his short career, including his latest outing at Cambridge.

For complete race results, click here.

From NZB Standardbred