The Amber Hoffman-trained pacer gets an ideal opportunity to break through at group level for the first time since 2019 in the Ascot Park feature.
Some harness racing fans may think One Change has been around forever, and for much of the past decade, he has.
The former All Stars 8-year-old’s last group race win came in the 2019 group 1 Sires Stakes Final for 3-year-olds in which he beat future New Zealand Cup winner Copy That.
Niggling injuries are the main reason One Change’s career did not follow the same trajectory as his runner-up six years ago.
While there have been many lost opportunities for One Change since then, tomorrow’s feature has come along at the perfect time.
"He came to us because he had a cyst on his fetlock joint," trainer Amber Hoffman said.
"The All Stars thought he might benefit from being trained on the beach.
"He has had a lot of soundness issues right the way through. He has had bad feet as well.
"But right now he is as sound as he has ever been and he seems like a really happy horse."
One Change heads south following his excellent second to Mo'unga in the group 3 Central Otago Cup earlier this month.
That effort is a good reflection of the kind of space One Change is in at the moment.
"We were really happy with that run. He ran second to a future star, I reckon," Hoffman said.
"He has come through that run really well, too."
Hoffman has only one concern before her pacer’s Northern Southland Cup tilt and it is her horse’s standing-start record at Ascot Park.
One Change has galloped away in four of his six stands at the southern track, though some of those his breaks have only been brief.
Regardless, the trainer is hopeful driver Blair Orange can get her veteran away safely on Thursday.
"It always seems to be at Ascot Park for some reason. He hasn’t managed to step away cleanly very often," Hoffman said.
"He gets a bit hot around at the start and he wants to get on with it."
"Lucky we have Mr Cool, Calm and Collected in the cart. Hopefully, he can work his magic."
Among the times One Change has stepped cleanly at Ascot Park was his fourth in the 2023 Northern Southland Cup.
While One Change’s last group race victory was in 2019, his last win of any kind came in March of 2023.
Niggling issues have certainly halted the horse’s progress at times, but he has still racked up more than $700,000 in earnings during his seven seasons of racing.
One Change was initially raced by the All Stars Stable, Trevor Casey and Mike Woodlock but Woodlock now races the pacer on his own.
"He is Mike’s absolute pride and joy. He loves him," Hoffman said.
One Change was rated the $2 win favourite for the Northern Southland Cup when fixed-odds markets opened earlier this week.
