Trainer Danny Frye is setting his sights high with Our Echo as he makes his return from a wind operation.
The Echoes Of Heaven six-year-old underwent surgery in May after a series of delays, and made a pleasing raceday return when runner-up at Cromwell last month.
He will head to Kurow on Friday for the Commodore Hotel (1400m) and a pleasing result will set him on a path towards the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month.
“We hold high aspirations with him, he has done nothing to prove us wrong so far,” Frye said.
“We feel the wind operation that he had has been a success and we are looking forward to his racing.
“He had an impairment and it got worse. Through COVID the surgeon from Australia wasn’t available twice, but he finally got over in May and he had surgery then.
“He wouldn’t have to improve much more to win some nice races, but we feel if he can get a bit more oxygen, he could be a better horse.
“We have got a nomination in for the Thorndon Mile and our programme is aiming towards that.”
Our Echo missed a race due to the abandoned meeting at Ashburton earlier this month, but Frye believes his charge has done enough work to have him ready to fire on Friday.
“He missed a race at Ashburton the other week, which would have brought him on a bit, but I think we have done enough work with him for him to be competitive on Friday,” Frye said.
Frye is looking forward to the potential trip north to Trentham next month, a track that holds fond memories for the pair.
“Two starts back he went a nice race there and won, albeit in a lower grade,” he said.
“We are aiming for the top and we can come down if we are not competitive enough. We are just taking it one step at a time, but we are pretty happy with him.”
Frye is also looking forward to reuniting Our Echo with jockey Akshay Balloo, who rode Our Echo to his maiden victory at the same meeting two years ago.
“Akshay Balloo won a maiden on the horse at Kurow, but injury curtailed him being able to stick with the horse,” Frye said.
“With his usual rider Tina Comignaghi being out with injury, it is a good opportunity for him to have another ride on the horse.
“He is a young rider that doesn’t get much of a go at the moment."