Balcairn galloper Our Echo will build towards a potential northern assignment at Ashburton on Wednesday, taking his place in the McCrea Painters And Decorators Trainers Challenge (1300m).

A son of Echoes Of Heaven, Our Echo has found plenty of success at the champagne turf over several seasons, highlighted by his victory in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) in March. In his eight-year-old year, the gelding resumed well behind Third Decree in October, but didn’t show his best in the feature sprints over New Zealand Cup Week.

“We tried to bring him up for Cup Week again this year and it just didn’t happen,” Frye said. “To be fair, his best form is usually around Christmas and New Year, and we are hoping that he’ll bounce back then.

“He’s in on Wednesday, which is a nice step-up race for him, if he goes competitive enough, he’ll go to the Timaru Cup. Hopefully then, he can force his way into the Thorndon Mile.

“He just seems to enjoy it up at Trentham, his form has always been pretty solid. If it’s not for the Thorndon, we’ll find something else for him to head up there for.”

A race he finished a creditable eighth in this year, the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) will be run on the 11th of January, a fortnight after the Timaru meeting.

Frye will be represented by a pair of other runners at Ashburton, with Bracero aiming to improve on a narrow second placing to Watergate on the Riccarton Synthetic last start.

“It was a really good run, a tough effort as he had to go a long way from home,” Frye said.

“I think that’s the way this horse has to be ridden, once you get going, you have to keep going with him. He’s one of those horses that won their maiden too soon, he won his first start and he just didn’t know much.

“This time around, he’s so much more consistent and mature in his work, so hopefully he can bring that forward to his racing this time. He’s got heaps of ability, but just lacks that bit of application.”

The son of War Decree will take his place in The Tav Travellers (1400m) in the hands of Leah Hemi, who will also take the reins on stablemates Our Echo and Miraqua, the latter starting in the Carston Racing Remembering Megan (1400m).

Miraqua is also coming off the all-weather track, where he finished close-up in fourth behind Flower Moon.

“Both of those two went on the synthetic because the money was up and the fields were spot-on for their side of the preparation,” Frye said.

“Hopefully we’ll ride him forward this time, he seems to be a bit of a sook in amongst them and has had a bit of interference in one or two of those starts and been a bit unlucky. We’re hoping to get on speed, and with a clear passage, he can show his worth there.

“Leah Hemi will ride them all and she gets on well with the team, so I’m pleased to have her on.”