Racing: Heavy track doesn't suit Seachange

Seachange will likely make her comeback at Hastings. Photo / Simon Baker

Continuing heavy conditions will almost certainly result in Seachange being scratched from Te Rapa tomorrow.

The stable does not want to risk the outstanding mare fresh from a spell on a heavy surface.

Seachange was to resume in the $25,000 Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club Handicap, for which she has been given 60.5kg topweight.

But when the Te Rapa surface yesterday had not improved in from a midweek reading of 5.0, ownership manager Rick Williams decided against running. "We haven't scratched her yet, but we almost certainly will," he said.

Williams and trainer Ralph Manning are both comfortable about waiting for Hastings next Wednesday where Seachange will clash with this season's top filly Princess Coup.

"We're not even desperate to run there," said Williams. "The Hastings track is 4.3 at the moment and drying. If it rained again and the track got wet we could wait for Ruakaka next Saturday.

"It wouldn't be the absolute worst thing if she didn't run at all and we had to give her another barrier trial to go into the Foxbridge Plate on. We believe she's more forward than at this stage last year."

Manning said yesterday Seachange had derived plenty of benefit from her winning run at Tuesday's Te Awamutu barrier trials. "You can see it in her, she just loves the work."