Racing: Trip still on but not Cox

Seachange is still heading to Melbourne, but almost certainly not to the Cox Plate.

Ownership manager Rick Williams said yesterday that Seachange's Kelt Capital third clearly pointed to the wisdom of keeping the mare to distances of 1600m and less.

"She'll still fly over on Tuesday week. I'm having a meeting with Ralph [Manning, trainer] in the morning to go through a few racing options over there," Williams said.

At this point, the races that appeal are the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield for fillies and mares over 1400m, then the metric mile for fillies and mares on Derby Day at Flemington.

The second of those is the group one race in which Miss Potential beat champion filly Alinghi two years ago.

"I'm going to pay the next Cox Plate payment only because a couple of weeks is a long time in horse racing, but we'd only think about it if a couple of the favourites dropped out of the race."

Williams said the Seachange camp would get a good guide to her 1600m Melbourne prospects when Darci Brahma runs in the Toorak Handicap over that distance this Saturday.

Little separated Darci Brahma and Seachange when she led him home in the 1600m Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hastings.

Top Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver will ride Darci Brahma in the Toorak, replacing Michael Walker, who has a hip injury.

"Michael's had an old injury flare up again and is going to a specialist tomorrow," trainer Mark Walker said yesterday.

"He was going to ride the horse, but he is having trouble with his hip, so we are happy to have Damien on."

Manning said Seachange was a tired horse for the first time.

"She's bright enough, but she's laying down sleeping."