KEY POINTS:
Guy Lowry guaranteed a 15-horse field for Saturday's $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes when he declared Australian mare Splashing Out a certain starter yesterday.
The local Hastings trainer had been concerned about a start for Splashing Out after the classy mare ran one of the worst races of her career when tailing the field in the lead-up $250,000 Stoney Bridge Stakes last Saturday week.
It was found Splashing Out had got down on her back heels, rubbing them raw during the race.
But a solid gallop at Hastings yesterday morning convinced Lowry to run the mare.
"She'd never got down on her bumpers before and when they do it for the first time they're generally compensating for a problem in another area," he said.
Lowry declared he would allow yesterday's training gallop to determine the programme for the weekend.
"I was very happy with the way she worked," he said.
"We'd had a fair bit of rain and the markers were a long way out, but she ran 1200m in 1.17, the final 600m in 37, which was good work so wide out.
"There was no sign of her getting down on her bumpers.
"Basically, she's giving us no reason not to run her on Saturday."
Her last win was in the A$100,000 Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm in Brisbane on April 21.
At last year's Melbourne spring carnival she finished second to outstanding mare Gold Edition in the group one A$500,000 Ascot Vale Stakes at Flemington.
The public has not stopped backing Seachange since her Stoney Bridge victory and she has tightened right in to $2.20.
But that did not stop someone plonking $20,000 on Princess Coup on Monday.
"I hope Seachange is well," said bookmaker Paul Lally, suggesting he almost wanted the favourite to wipe out the $100,000 liability. In reality, Seachange is still the worse result.
TAB odds for leading runners: $2.20 Seachange, $4 Princess Coup, $10 Sir Slick, $13 Mandela, Magic Cape, $14 Railings, Veloce Bella, $18 Gaze, J'Adane.
