Lady Echelon travels sweetly

LADY Echelon dispelled any queries about her fitness when she won the Travel Associates Classic at Doomben yesterday.

Having her first start since July, Lady Echelon ($ 11) saved ground close to the fence and held off Jacquetta ($ 15) to win by a head with Doubtfilly ($6.50) a half length away third.

Trainer Natalie McCall was concerned how Lady Echelon would cope with the 1200m trip first-up in heavy ground.

‘‘I was a bit suspect whether she was going to be nippy enough first- up over that distance,’’ McCall said.

‘‘Obviously at this time of year we weren’t expecting to have a heavy track and I only gave her one quiet trial at Deagon going into the race so there’s still plenty of improvement in her.’’

McCall said Lady Echelon will have her next start in the Just Now Quality (1350m) at Doomben on December 14.