Rising star aimed at prestigious feature

NEXT year’s Chariots Of Fire has been earmarked as the primary target for One Change following a short break.

Outclassing his older rivals in last night’s Christmas Cup at Albion Park, One Change will enjoy a quiet festive season before being primed for the interstate feature.

Australasia’s premier four-year-old event, the Chariots Of Fire is scheduled to be conducted at Club Menangle on February 20.

Who will prepare One Change for the Group One, however, remains uncertain.

Co-trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen in New Zealand, One Change registered eight wins and six placings from 14 starts, with his victories including five Group Ones.

Sent to Rasmussen’s Queensland-based sister Vicki in August, the son of Bettors Delight has notched six wins and three placings from 10 starts.

One Change’s unplaced effort was a handy fifth in last week’s The Blacks A Fake – the final leg of the 2019/20 Grand Circuit.

“The Chariots Of Fire is what is in store for him,” Vicki said. “He’ll have a freshen up and then be set for that.

“Whether he stays here to be prepared or goes back to New Zealand I don’t know.

“I will talk with Natalie during the week to find out what is going on.”

Driven by Shane Graham during his latest triumph, One Change worked to the lead from barrier three as Secret Agent Tycoon and then Colt Thirty One occupied the ‘death seat’.

Forced to dig deep along the home straight, the three-year-old staved off a late challenge from Bright Energy to score by a head.

Colt Thirty One fought on courageously to be a half-neck away third.

Rating 1:54.6 over 2680 metres, One Change slashed 1.8 seconds from Colt Thirty One’s race record set in 2018.