Racing: Seachange sticks to left-handed tracks

Australian jockey Gavin McKeon has 26 wins in NZ.

Connections of star filly Seachange are unlikely to be tempted to run the horse in the $600,000 New Zealand Derby.

Seachange was not among Derby nominations and although there was provision for late nominations, that was unlikely to be taken up, Rick Williams, racing manager for the horse's Queensland owner Dick Karreman said yesterday.

Williams, who is also manager for Karreman's breeding property, The Oaks Stud, in the Waikato, said he was keen to stick with Seachange's original aim of the $300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) for 3-year-old fillies at Trentham on March 18.

The New Zealand Derby, for all 3-year-olds, is run at Ellerslie a fortnight earlier and amongst the early leading chances for the race is Wahid, who Seachange thrashed at Woodville on Saturday.

Williams said that while Seachange showed Saturday she was well up to beating the best colts and geldings of her age there were other reasons for not chasing stake money twice that of the oaks.

"I'm not afraid of taking on the colts with her," Williams said yesterday.

"But the main reason I'm keen to stick with the oaks is that it's on a left-handed track."

Seachange won on a right-handed track on debut at Paeroa in September but it is not by accident that in her four starts since she has raced on left-handed tracks.

The Cape Cross filly has a twisted knee on her right front leg which leads to the leg having an unusual swinging action when galloping.

Williams said as a precaution it was decided to keep the horse as much as possible to left-handed tracks where she leads her galloping action with her left leg.

"I wouldn't, at the moment, like to see her running right-handed where she leads with that other leg," Williams said.

Williams was yesterday still trying to come to terms with Seachange's stunning win in the $15,000 Tararua Roading Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Woodville which was considered a match race between her and Wahid.

Both horses were starting new campaigns but with Seachange having been off the scene for longer many considered her more vulnerable.

It was certainly the thinking of Waikato trainer Ralph Manning who last week said if Wahid couldn't beat her in the race, he never would.

Seachange's rider, Gavin McKeon, initially tried to settle his mount second in the four-horse field, but when the pace was ridiculously slow he took her to the lead with 1000m left to run.

Wahid moved up to sit outside Seachange and a great battle was anticipated as the home straight loomed.

But Seachange simply slipped up another gear in the straight and came clear to score by 5 1/4 lengths from Wahid.

Williams was flabbergasted.

"It's frightening. I can't believe it," he said after the race. "We certainly wanted to win but I thought if we get beaten by Wahid, no disgrace. I can't believe it. I honestly can't believe it.

"It's hard to describe what she's just done because I know how good Wahid is and I know how much she'll [Seachange] improve out of this race."

Wahid's jockey, Leith Innes, was impressed. "There's not a horse in New Zealand today that would have beaten her."

The win provided great satisfaction for jockey McKeon who has returned to New Zealand from Queensland to continue his association with the horse.

McKeon came to New Zealand earlier this season to broaden his experience and was the fortunate one to land the ride on Seachange from the outset.

Seachange is unbeaten from five starts with the highlight so far being victory in the group one $275,000 One Thousand Guineas (1600m) for 3-year-old fillies at Riccarton on November 5.

After that race an offer of $1 million for Seachange from an Australian bloodstock agent was rejected, Williams said.

McKeon's trips to New Zealand over the last few months have now netted him 26 wins and Saturday's success came on his first day's riding as a fully-fledged jockey. As an apprentice he rode nearly 200 winners in Australia and New Zealand.

Seachange's next start will be the group three $60,000 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on January 28.

- NZPA