KEY POINTS:
The domination of New Zealand weight-for-age racing by outstanding mare Seachange continued at Hastings yesterday when the 5-year-old easily won the $250,000 Stoney Bridge Stakes.
Seachange has been the New Zealand thoroughbred princess of racing over the past 12 months and underlined her brilliance and professionalism with an
easy home-stretch sprint to win the Group One classic.
Regular jockey Gavin McKeon had her perfectly positioned tracking front-running warrior Sir Slick and pounced quickly to defeat him by a length.
A further 1 1/4 lengths away third was the fast-closing Princess Coup, who recorded an eye-catching trial for the third leg of the crown, the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes.
Seachange produced a similar performance three weeks ago in the Mudgway Stakes at Hastings.
All eyes now switch to the running of the Kelt Capital Stakes on October 6 in which Seachange will attempt to complete a winning hat-trick of spring feature events at Hastings.
Seachange was sensationally defeated by Legs when running third in the Kelt Capital Stakes 12 months ago after notching the same double she completed yesterday.
If Seachange can handle the jump up in distance to the 2040m of the Kelt it will take an exceptional performance to defeat her. A relaxed racing style and explosive sprint finish are her hallmarks.
The victory completed a pleasing day for her owner Dick Karreman who earlier won the Group Three Highview Stakes with Diamond Deck and the opening race with Keeperinthemyst.
* Michael Coleman was left shaking his head after top-class filly Diamond Deck effortlessly won the $75,000 Group Three Highview Stakes.
The Matamata-based jockey has been waiting several months to be reunited with the long-striding filly after being narrowly beaten at her race debut in a 2-year-old event this year.
Diamond Deck raced with credit in Group company during a winter campaign in Brisbane and lined up in yesterday's 1200m event with one trial victory to fine tune her fitness.
The daughter of Octagonal settled at the back of the field, while the favourites, Special Mission and Satinka, attempted to outsprint the opposition.
Coleman calmly angled his charge out into the middle of the track at the top of the home straight and the response was mouthwatering.
Diamond Deck unleashed a blistering sprint, reeling in the leaders and was eased down to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Special Mission. A further 1 1/2 lengths away was Royal Taat.
The fourth-placed Insouciant gave jockey Michael Walker a difficult time running all over the track in the home stretch. Once this filly has grasped the importance of sprinting in a straight line, she will be worth following this season.
Coleman was worried for a short time on the home turn when the leaders kicked clear.
"Once I pulled my filly out and gave her a flick with the whip, I knew we'd win," said Coleman.
"She's got gears and we had a bit up the sleeve at the finish. I thought that she might be vulnerable first-up over 1200m but she's got class and showed it.
"I've been waiting a while to get back on this filly. I rode her in a trial last season and also in her race debut when we were unlucky and finished second.
"I watched her on television when she was racing in Brisbane. She's going to get better, particularly when we step up to 1600m."
Coleman combined with Irlanda in the following event to record an impressive victory in the $50,000 Bay Ford Premier.