KEY POINTS:
Saturday's $1 million Pick6 for the Taumarunui Racing Club meeting at Te Rapa is likely to be joined by another million-dollar baby, Seachange.
New Zealand's glamour galloper is a surprise nomination for the $25,000 Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club Handicap.
Seachange was to have resumed her remarkable career in a
1200m sprint at Hastings next Thursday, but ownership manager Rick Williams is concerned about the heavy state of the Hastings track following persistent rain.
The second alternative to racing on Saturday is the 1300m open sprint at Ruakaka on Saturday week.
Seachange won her 1000m heat at yesterday's Te Awamutu barrier trials, after which regular rider Gavin McKeon declared the brilliant mare ready to race this weekend.
Seachange had a good blow after beating Studebaker and Brut Force in her heat, but she is a thick-winded mare that blows after every gallop.
Her ability to do well between races and trials is part of her success.
She looks solid, healthy and not far away from her raceday form.
Seachange has always preferred firm footing, but got away with the heavy conditions yesterday.
"She handled the track unbelievably well," said McKeon.
So much so that there may be a new strength to the mare's form.
Left-handed tracks have always suited her best, but McKeon felt that might be in the past.
"She was always well balanced and came around this corner on the home turn better than probably any horse I've ridden around it. I know there have always been concerns about her going this [right-handed] way around, but she handled it today like she was trained here."
Williams said the camp would wait until this morning to see how Seachange came through the trial before deciding where she would resume, but indications were for a preference for Te Rapa on Saturday.
Seachange has been given 60.5kg on Saturday and a claiming apprentice, yet to be decided on, will be engaged.
"If we leave it to Ruakaka it is not a claiming race and she will have to carry her full weight, which is less appealing," said Williams.
Tenjuberrymud is the second topweight in Saturday's sprint with 58kg.
The other 1000m open heat yesterday was won stylishly by High Octane, ridden by Lisa Cropp.
High Octane finished a neck in front of this season's leading filly Princess Coup. He impressed when storming through the grades last preparation and looks to have strengthened and should be in for a big spring and summer.
Princess Coup looked in great shape and should derive a lot of benefit from the trial. Chant was an improver's third in the heat.
When Princess Coup resumes, don't look for the familiar orange Te Akau racing colours - owners Ray Coupland and John Bromley have designed a new set with not one but two stylised logos.
"We wanted something different," said Bromley at yesterday's trials, "so on the blue jacket we've got Ray's red 'C' on the front and back and a flying pegasus above it. I thought something signifying flying high above the rest was pretty appropriate."
It certainly was during the season about to be completed.
* The list of recommendations for voting for the categories of the Mercedes Awards were yesterday released by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. Voting does not have to be restricted to this list of horses.
YO: Alamosa, Crossyourheart, Nightlign, The Pooka.
YO: Eskimo Queen, Jokers Wild, Princess Coup, Magic Cape, Veloce Bella.
Sprinter: Darci Brahma, Seachange, Kays Awake, Donna Rosita.
Middle Distance: Gaze, Seachange, Sir Slick, Mikki Street, Legs.
Stayer: Pentathon, Sharvasti, Willy Smith, Mandela, Prize Lady.
Jumper: Black Eagle, Real Tonic, Van Winkle, Blasé, Just Not Cricket.
Horse of the Year: To be selected from those horses in the categories above. A horse does not need to win a category to win Horse of the Year.