Racing: Track too hard for Kiwis

SYDNEY - Sedecrem and Prize Lady both found Eagle Farm's surface in Brisbane too hard, their trainers said yesterday.

Sedecrem, New Zealand's only runner in the A$1 million ($1.08 million) Stradbroke Handicap, finished 13th behind winner St Basil after appearing to have every chance.

Said Auckland trainer Richard Yuill: "He was only 5 1/4 lengths from the winner, but [jockey] Douglas Whyte said he didn't hit out as well as he should have."

Whyte, a renowned Hong Kong-based international rider, told Yuill he was surprised that racing was allowed on such a rock-hard surface as Saturday's.

However, Yuill said Sedecrem, a rising 7-year-old, might be "a tick off" the class of the Stradbroke now.

After a short break, the Faltaat gelding will be aimed at the 1400m and 1600m feature races at the Hawkes Bay spring carnival.

Prize Lady was one of the best favoured runners in the Queensland Derby, but after a good run she faded in the straight to finish eighth.

Big-race specialist Glen Boss guided Lachlan River to victory by a half-length over Lords A Leaping with a long head back to the favourite and last week's Oaks winner Vitesse Dane in third position.

Said Waikato trainer Graeme Sanders: "She went a good race but the track was too hard for her. She just needed a bit cut in the ground."

The filly would now have a spell and needed time to develop, Sanders said.

The shifting of the Auckland Cup from January to March may tempt him to set her for that, but it is also a likely target for his mare Anne Carina, who won the listed Gallagher Stakes (2212m) at Eagle Farm.

She led by about 15 lengths at one stage and held off her rivals comfortably in the straight for Noel Harris who had wasted hard to take the mount at 52kg.

Anne Carina will run in the Tattersalls Cup, a 2240m race at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.

- NZPA