KEY POINTS:
The Singapore Gold Cup is seen as an unlikely option for top New Zealand mare Seachange.
Rick Williams, racing manager for Queensland owner Dick Karreman, said Seachange would have one more start in Melbourne this campaign.
Afterwards she would more than likely return to New Zealand rather than venturing on to the S$3 million ($2.9 million) Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on May 20.
Seachange is being considered for one of two races in Melbourne at Sandown on March 17.
They are the group two A$350,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m) for 3-year-olds and the group three A$200,000 Matron Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares.
"She'll definitely run in one of those two and we'll work it out after that," Williamssaid. "But Singapore is most unlikely. We might bring her home, spell her and set her for the treble at Hastings [in the spring]."
Williams said Seachange might have one more start, in the group two $100,000 weight-for-age Awapuni Gold Cup in Palmerston North on March 31, after returning from Melbourne.
Williams said the 2000m distance at Awapuni would provide an indication of how she would cope with the 2040m of the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes, which is the last leg of the Hawkes Bay spring treble.
Waikato trainer Ralph Manning had suggested the Singapore Gold Cup as a possibility after Seachange finished second to Aqua D'Amore last week in the group one weight-for-age Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield.
Williams said the Singapore race would probably extend Seachange's season too far. "If we went to Singapore, we would be into late May, and I think she would be better off in her paddock while the weather is still nice."
- NZPA
