Three-year-old filly Echannay ran up to her impressive pedigree with a strong debut victory in the Campbell Infrastructure 1215m at Rotorua on Wednesday.
Prepared by Mark Brooks, the daughter of Hello Youmzain began well before pulling out of a speed duel to settle just off the pace and lengthened stride well under hands and heels riding from rider George Rooke to win comfortably.
“I had to use her early on to hold my position,” Rooke said. “I asked her to switch off which she did well and after we came wide she lengthened through the line brilliantly.
“I asked a lot from her today and she's delivered. She enjoyed the ground as she was able to get her toe in.
“She's definitely a filly to look forward to.”
Sporting the black and gold checks of Cambridge Stud, Echannay built on her Avondale trial success last month with a polished display on race day.
“George gave her a good patient ride when they were going a bit hard in front and she's finished over the top of them,” Brooks said.
“She ran really well and it’s an honour to have a horse for Cambridge Stud.
“She’s a really nice filly and I didn’t think the heavy ground would be a problem.
“We'll have to go home and talk to Henry (Plumptre) and come up with a plan. She will likely just have the one run and then go for a bit of a break in preparation for the spring.”
Cambridge Stud purchased Echannay from Pencarrow Stud at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $300,000 making her the highest priced filly for her sire sold in 2024.
She is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Maison Louis. Their dam is the Makfi mare Cote D’Or, the winner of eight races including the Listed Matamata Cup and a family featuring Group One-winners Grand Echezeaux, her son Darci Brahma and 'Cups Queen' Ethereal.
One of 39 winners from the eldest Southern Hemisphere crop of Hello Youmzain, the Cambridge Stud stallion has made a good start to his stud career with five stakes winners amongst 13 stakes performers from 86 starters to date. – NZ Racing Desk
