KEY POINTS:
The connections of star New Zealand mare Seachange are backing her to take on the might of El Segundo next Saturday after she toyed with her rivals in Melbourne.
Owner Dick Karreman's New Zealand racing manager Rick Williams told NZPA yesterday that Seachange was almost certain to contest the group one A$700,000 ($791,000) weight-for-age Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
"There's every chance she'll back up next weekend," Williams said.
"She's pretty tough. She came through the race really well and it was really only a track gallop."
The Ralph Manning-trained Seachange on Saturday won the group three A$125,500 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield for mares by 3 lengths to record her first Australian win in four starts.
She was a $2.40 favourite on the Victorian and New South Wales TABs.
El Segundo looms large for the Futurity and will likely start a short-priced favourite after his impressive win in the Orr Stakes (1400m) on February 10.
Three of the horses that finished behind El Segundo - Seachange (fifth), Miss Finland (fourth) and Pompeii Ruler (seventh) - all won at Caulfield on Saturday.
"We respect El Segundo, he looks the best horse in Australia," Williams said.
"But we saw a few hot favourites get beaten on both sides of the Tasman yesterday. If we ran second it wouldn't be the worst result.
"The Orr form looks awesome after yesterday but she's improved since then. We may as well have a crack at El Segundo."
Seachange has only raced twice in eight days once before. That was in Melbourne last November when she ran second in the Myer Classic at Flemington then flopped in the Emirates Stakes a week later.
But Williams said she was feeling the effects of a tough campaign.
Seachange was ridden by Australian jockey Michael Rodd and his manager was quickly in contact yesterday. Williams said he would retain the mount for the Futurity.
Rodd went against instructions to take the lead but with little early pace on, he dictated the race with Seachange and she sprinted clear at the top of the straight.
Her last 600m of 33.85 seconds was the fastest of the day in a star-studded programme at Caulfield.
Manning quipped afterwards: "After leading he [Rodd] had to win. Otherwise I'd say he wouldn't have been back on with the owners.
"She's run in a few group ones in a row in New Zealand and for her it was a big drop in class - easy money."
Safely through the Futurity, Seachange will likely be freshened for the A$300,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville, Adelaide, on April 21. It is a group one weight-for-age fillies and mares race.
- NZPA
