Racing: Seachange shows toughness

Seachange has at least one base covered for her Australian campaign - toughness.

Watching the outstanding mare doing an exhibition gallop between races at Te Rapa yesterday you'd never have guessed that two weeks ago she had the toughest race of her life to finish third in the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings.

She looked rock solid, bright in the coat and even had a decent blow after regular trackwork rider Ben Ropiha took her through a solid 1000m solo gallop.

Yet again Seachange proved just how deceptive she is when running at speed - she looked to be ambling but ran the 1000m in 1.2.6 and the final 600m in 35.90.

She also showed again her dislike of rain-affected footing. The track was officially dead for the start of racing, but jockeys who rode in the two races before Seachange galloped said the footing was worse than that.

"She slipped coming around the turn, so I moved her out three or four widths in the straight," said Ropiha.

Trainer Ralph Manning said Seachange has been working stylishly at home at Cambridge.

"You can't believe how tough she is, can you," marvelled ownership manager Rick Williams. "After a race like she had in the Kelt you'd expect her to be lying down half dead for the next few days, but look at her."

Seachange will be flown to Melbourne a week today and will be stabled at the big property run by her Australian owner Dick Karreman at Romsey in rural Victoria.

Seachange is being set for the A$500,000 ($570,000) Myer Classic (1600m) on Derby Day at Flemington. Gavin McKeon retains the mount.