Racing: Seachange doubtful if Kelt track gets worse

Second favourite Pentane could benefit from Seachange's withdrawal. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Seachange is an unlikely runner in tomorrow's $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes if the Hastings track deteriorates to slow.

That was the shock news late yesterday from the outstanding mare's ownership manager Rick Williams.

Williams told the Herald he had already sought the alternative to fly Seachange to Melbourne on Tuesday and race there next Saturday.

Yesterday morning the Hastings track was 3.0 and dead, but persistent showers forecast for yesterday afternoon would have had a deteriorating effect.

When the Herald contacted Williams he had just received a cellphone text from his daughter who was attending a law conference in Hastings, the message declaring that it was raining steadily at the time.

"We want to run, that's for sure. We have aimed our spring at this race, but as we all know, she is certainly not as effective on wet ground.

"If it rained heavily tomorrow, and the forecast I've just looked at does not look flash, and the track got to slow, she'd be very doubtful to run.

"For the money she can run for in Melbourne it's not worth sending her around on a surface that would not do her justice."

Seachange was due to be floated from Cambridge to Hastings at 10am today and will make that trip.

"I'll leave any decision until scratching time on Saturday morning, unless of course it was torrential rain tomorrow, then she could come home tomorrow afternoon."

A slow track or Seachange being scratched is a disaster for punters who have been betting on the mare's Kelt chances for months and who shortened her to $2.50 this week.

There are no refunds on bets placed on the futures market before midday Wednesday.

That quote was lengthened to $3.25 after the barrier draw on Wednesday, which saw the mare inconvenienced with gate No 14.

"I'm more worried about the weather than the barrier draw," said Williams.

"Certainly we'd have preferred to draw in closer, but I don't think it's too bad."

"I don't believe we'll have to have her ridden along early because she's so brilliant out of the gates.

"There are at least four horses that will go forward and with speed on up front I think the leading few will be spaced out enough for there not to be a problem," said Williams.

Missing a Kelt run would also be a disaster for the Seachange team of owner Dick Karreman and trainer Ralph Manning.

Manning has done a superb job right through Seachange's preparation and is confident he has his stable star in the best condition of her racing career.

Remarkably, Seachange takes plenty of work between races.

"You have to keep her right up to the mark," said Manning.

"Since the Stoney Bridge I've had to give her two really strong 2000m gallops - three-quarter pace then coming home from the 1000m.

"She's really thriving."

TAB odds: $3.25 Seachange, $5 Pentane, $6 Wahid, $7.50 Zarius, $10 Balmuse, $13 Hurrah, $17 Shamrock Star, $22 Legs, Kristov, $31 Sculptor, $35 Cedar Manor, Kerry O'Reilly, $51 Lilakyn, $61 Mikki Street, Rags To Riches, $81 Sir Slick.