Seachange (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Seachange


caption =
sire = Cape Cross
grandsire = Green Desert
dam = Just Cruising
damsire = Broad Reach
sex = Mare
foaled = 2002
country = New Zealand flagicon|NZL
colour = Brown
breeder = Karreman Bloodstock Ltd
owner = Karreman Bloodstock Ltd
trainer = Graeme Sanders
record = 25:14-4-2
earnings = $1,572,421 (excluding earnings for Jabbel el Hatta)
race = New Zealand 1000 Guineas (2005)
Mudgway Stakes (2006/07)
Stoneybridge Stakes (2006/07)
Mannerism Stakes (2007)
Telegraph Handicap (2007)
Waikato Draught Sprint (2007)
awards = 2006/07 NZ Horse of the Year
honours =
updated = March 24, 2008

Seachange is a top New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. She won a total of seven Group 1 races in New Zealand, which is a record. Her regular rider in New Zealand was Gavin McKeon, and the pair were almost inseparable.

Seachange began racing in September 2005, as a 3yo, and won her first start at Paeroa by half a length. She would go on to win four more races that campaign, including the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, to remain undefeated before heading out for a spell.

Seachange would then resume in July 2006 with a win at Waikato. In her next start, second up at Waikato she would suffer her first loss, being beaten less than a length by Bulginbaah and Don't Ya Lovett. Despite her first defeat, she continued on to Hastings to contest the Hastings Triple Crown and enter one of the most memorable points of her career: Her rivalry with the Million Dollar colt Darci Brahma. Seachange would go on to win her second Group 1, the Mudgway Stakes, with Darci Brahma closing fast for second, a length behind. Next the two would meet in the Group 1 Stoneybridge Stakes, with Seachange and Darci Brahma battling neck and neck down the straight. Seachange prevailed by a nose in a fantastic battle. This put her 2-0 up against Darci Brahma. Seachange would move on to the final race of the Hastings Triple Crown: the Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes. Despite her best efforts she was beaten less than a length by Legs and Kerry O'Reilly. Many claimed that it was the distance of 2040m that beat her. The owners of Seachange pressed forward with an Australian campaign where she would finish 2nd and 15th in the Myer Classic and Emirates Stakes respectively. It was decided that she would be put out for a spell.

Seachange returned two months later in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham. This time Darci Brahma turned the tables on Seachange, drawing up to her and showing an incredible burst of speed to win by a length and a half. This would be the last time that Seachange and Darci Brahma met. Seachange then went on a second Australian Campaign, with a 1st in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes, a 2nd in the Group 1 Futurity and a 5th in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. She was then put out for another spell.

Seachange returned in August 2007 better than ever. She had grown larger and more powerful. She resumed with a win before heading to the listed Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa. Uncomfortable in the heavy conditions, the best she could manage was 5th.Despite this she pressed forward towards defending her titles in the Group 1 Mudgway Stakes and Group 1 Stoneybridge Stakes, which she did with ease. She went in as favorite in the race that eluded her previously, the Kelt Capital Stakes. This time she finished 4th in an incredible four-way finish to the Kelt, being beaten only a neck by the winner, Princess Coup. She would have only one other start this campaign, in the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes, in which she was a shockingly distant three and a half lengths 2nd to Dorabella. The defeat was put down to her being exhausted from her Hastings Triple Crown attempt. She was put out for a spell.

Seachange returned freshened for the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in January 2008, the race she was defeated in the previous year. This time, however, there was a very different scene. With the top weight of 58.5kg, she was given reign at the 200m mark and never looked back, winning by three and a half lengths in a time of 1.06.66, the second fastest time in the World for a 1200m race. An incredible feat for a Mare to accomplish. She backed up in the Group 1 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa, which would be her test run for a trip to the 2008 Dubai World Cup Meeting. Despite winning by only half a length, it was confirmed that she would make the trip to Dubai to contest the $5 Million Dubai Duty Free.

After successfully making the trip to Dubai, her lead up race to the Dubai Duty Free was the US$250,000 Jabel Hatta-Nayef at Nad al Sheba on the 6 March. With both the wide draw and the 58kg she had to carry against her, she only managed to finish 6th. This pleased her trainers though, and they were confident heading into the Dubai Duty Free.

Seachange went on to finish sixth in the Dubai Duty Free, just under 2 1/2 lengths from the winner Jay Peg. It was another good run given the high quality of the field and the longer than ideal distance. She then went on to race in England. Top New Zealand trainer Graeme Sanders took over the training for this campaign, after original trainer Ralph Manning chose not to continue as her trainer.

Seachange's first start in England was in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot over 6 furlongs, where she finished 12th after failing to handle the track. She stepped up to 8 furlongs for her final career start, the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket where she finished fourth on another unsuitable track.

Seachange returned to New Zealand on August 2008. On October 7, 2008, it was revealed that she had a life-saving operation on a twisted bowel. She is expected to be served by champion sire Zabeel in the current season.

References

* [http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Breeding/HorseProfilePerformance.aspx/237375 Seachanges NZ Racing Profile]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/4429696a17395.html "Seachange Sixth in Dubai" stuff.co.nz]