KEY POINTS:
Trainer Ralph Manning says he is not expecting a win from Seachange in tomorrow's $200,000 Telegraph Handicap.
That's a big call for a mare that's won eight of her 10 New Zealand starts.
And particularly given she is two-from-two against race favourite Darci Brahma.
But that was at different distances to the slippery 1200m that is the annual running of the Telegraph at Trentham.
Manning said he was very taken with the condition of Darci Brahma when he paraded for the recent Paeroa barrier trial in which he faced Seachange.
"He looked very fit and very well."
Darci Brahma comfortably beat Seachange into second, sprinting quickly when asked for an effort in the home straight.
"I thought Seachange went very well," said Manning. "She went down on her nose in the first few strides and she finished the trial off well."
Manning said all he was looking for was another topline effort from his outstanding mare to ensure an Australian campaign after this race.
"You can never entirely count her out because she can do pretty freaky things.
"I'm not the only one who thinks she's up against it in this race - Rick Williams fancies Darci Brahma to beat her."
Williams manages affairs for Queenslander Dick Karreman, who owns Seachange and The Oaks Stud. The Oaks also owns a 10 per cent shareholding in Darci Brahma.
"Peter Vela and David Ellis have just been here at the stud looking at yearlings and I told them I was wearing two hats," said Williams.
"When these two horses are around in the same race I'm never quite sure which hat I'm supposed to wear."
Williams says logic tells him Darci Brahma should be the better of the pair and go close to winning for his trainer Mark Walker.
"On the Paeroa trial you'd have to put him on top."
Darci Brahma has an excellent record when fresh and will jump from the gate Gee I Jane came out of to win last year's Telegraph with such a dominant performance at No 10.
This will be his first start since Seachange got up late to beat him a short head in the 1600m Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hastings in September.
He has won three of his four attempts at 1200m and been placed in the other.
Someone believes Darci Brahma is a good thing. More than a month ago a punter plunged $11,000 on him to win with the TAB at $8.
Needless to say he has been the dominating favourite since.
Yesterday he was quoted at $3, significantly clear of Gee I Jane on $4.20. The others: $6.50 Seachange, $7.50 Hasta La Ciao Ciao, $11 Anca, $15 Kays Awake, $16 Manten, $21 Fiorenza, $31 Shinzig, St Verdi, Sent To Sea, $51 Ticklish, $61 Arica.
The TAB says it has had solid backing for Hasta La Ciao Ciao, who recently trialled up well. At her last start she won a mares race at Sandown in mid-November.
* Trainer Shaun Ritchie believes his 2000 Guineas winner Magic Cape has a tough task to beat fellow Cambridge 3-year-old Pinot Grigio in the $80,000 Kingdom Residential Wellington Stakes
"I can see the way the race will be run suiting Pinot Grigio perfectly," said Ritchie.
"He'll jump well from the No 2 gate and put himself in the race as he always does. My horse is on a Derby prep, so he's going to be ridden cold from the outside No 13 gate.
"Because he hasn't had a barrier trial or an exhibition gallop he lacks a touch of hardness, so he won't be able to make an early run. I can see him having to give Pinot Grigio about five lengths from the top of the straight."
Ritchie believes Magic Cape will run home strongly though and is not counting out a possible win.
