KEY POINTS:
Ralph Manning has stepped down as the trainer of star mare Seachange.
Manning has been the trainer of Seachange throughout her career but with the horse now in England he said he no longer had the time to devote to her.
"It was my decision," Manning said.
"I couldn't do her justice. To get her ready for a group one race up there [in England], I would need to be there for six weeks to two months beforehand."
Manning has a stable at Cambridge to run and had already had a fair time away from New Zealand while Seachange raced in Dubai in March.
"For her races in Dubai I was able to get her ready at home. She went there ready to race," he said.
"But I just haven't got the time to be with her in England. I can't be on two sides of the world at the same time."
Rick Williams, racing manager for the horse's Queensland owner Dick Karreman, said he did not want people jumping to the conclusion Manning had been dumped.
"There is no fallout. There is nothing further from the truth," said Williams.
"If he [Manning] wanted to continue training her, he would have been the trainer, no question."
Seachange is in the yard of English trainer Geoff Wragg and while he could be a favourite for the training position, Williams said no decision had been made.
Seachange, the winner of seven group one races in New Zealand, is down to make her English debut in the 1200m Golden Jubilee on June 21 at Royal Ascot.
- NZPA
