Brilliant Return for Stratum Filly

Rated as one of the best juveniles in the Gai Waterhouse stable early last season, Echo Gal returned to top form when scoring a tenacious win over older mares in her first run back from a spell at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The daughter of Stratum looked a budding juvenile star last season when winning easily on debut at Warwick Farm in December, but from that point failed to fulfil her potential in three subsequent runs.

With two recent trial wins under her belt, Echo Gal put her past failures behind her to record a bold front running win over 1100 metres.

“Now that she’s come here and won we can look for a stakes race for her,” said Waterhouse foreman Mark Newnham.

“She did it tough as well. She’s led, got taken on and kept finding.

“Plus she had to hold off two horses in a driving finish. She had no favours.”

The first foal of stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Pink Siris, Echo Gal was consigned to the 2013 Magic Millions by Newgate Farm and purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $145,000.

Interestingly she was bred at Ascot Park on the outskirts of Sydney by Bob Hannon, who also bred and sold last year’s Cox Plate hero Shamus Award, who kicks off his stud career at Widden this spring.