Racing: McKeon's judgement spot on

Gavin McKeon must be a pretty good judge of high-quality horse flesh, as punters found out at Riccarton racecourse yesterday.

The Brisbane-based apprentice jockey took an instant liking to the Cape Cross-sired 3-year-old filly Seachange, which he rode on two occasions during a four-week exchange visit to New Zealand.

McKeon was determined he would not allow another jockey on board the filly, returning to Wellington to ride her in a 3-year-old fillies' race two weeks ago.

He made another dash from Brisbane to Christchurch to continue his unbeaten riding record aboard Seachange in the $275,000 (Group One) New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

Seachange enjoyed a perfect sit outside the pace-setting Smitten Kitten and effortlessly lengthened stride at the top of the straight to burst away from the opposition, scoring by three-quarters of a length over the solid closing Everswindell.

A further half-head away third was the favourite, Tsarina Belle.

Seachange races under the Karreman Bloodstock banner and is owned by her Queensland-based breeder Dick Karreman, who also owns The Oaks Stud in Cambridge.

The 1000 Guineas was never a serious consideration for Seachange when she first arrived at the Cambridge property of trainer Ralph Manning.

"When Rick (Williams, manager of The Oaks Stud) first sent Seachange to me to train neither of us thought that she would end up winning a Group One race," said Manning.

"However, she has just kept on improving and, despite her problems in both front feet, she has handled everything we have asked of her.

"She has an amazing temperament and she showed today that she can run on any type of track."

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Trebla on form for NZ Cup

Trebla recorded a pleasing trial for the $200,000 New Zealand Cup next Saturday, coasting to an easy victory in the $40,000 Metropolitan Trophy.

The 5-year-old unleashed a sustained sprint finish down the middle of the track in the hands of Leith Innes to win by 2 3/4 lengths from Moby and Imhappyaboutthat.

Tauranga-based trainer Del Roberts has a high opinion of Trebla, backed up by a race record of five wins and three minor placings from 16 starts. Innes was also impressed with the effort, sufficiently enough to request the ride in the Cup.

The Matamata-based jockey will be hoping the Yamanin Vital 5-year-old is penalised for his latest success, because he has only 51kg next Saturday in the NZ Cup.

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Darcybee and Clifton Prince dominate Pegasus

North Island sprinters Darcybee and Clifton Prince dominated the finish of the $33,000 Pegasus Stakes.

Darcybee sat virtually three wide throughout the running of the 1000-metre event and had her rivals well-covered at the finish scoring by 1 1/4 lengths over the fast-closing Clifton Prince. The same margin away third was Fluffy Duck.

Darcybee and Clifton Prince will clash again at Riccarton on Wednesday in the $50,000 Stewards Handicap over 1200m.

Clifton Prince lost few admirers for this Group Three event settling off the speed yesterday and closing quickly on Darcybee in the shorter 1000m race.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY