KEY POINTS:
Ownership manager Rick Williams is searching desperately for a negative around Seachange as she attacks the massive task she has in Sunday morning's Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
So far he can't find one.
Even the results of the lead-up King's Stand Stakes in the early hours of
yesterday morning are a massive positive.
The Seachange camp has declared in recent weeks their main opposition in the Golden Jubilee will come from outstanding Australian sprinter Takeover Target.
Takeover Target's second to Spanish sprinter Equiano in yesterday's King's Stand for owner and trainer Joe Janiak only confirms that belief for the New Zealanders.
"Joe told us a week ago he believed Takeover Target couldn't repeat his King's Stand win of two years ago.
"He said the horse has lost a little of his natural brilliance and felt the five furlongs of the King's Stand was a bit short for him and that he'd be better suited by the six furlongs of the Golden Jubilee. That's exactly the way it looked in today's race.
"Takeover Target is shortening in the market as the one to beat in the Golden Jubilee and the fact he's the horse they're worried about confirms for us we're right on track."
Even the results of the Queen Anne Stakes yesterday morning helped confirm that Seachange is truly up to the best in the world.
Former topline Australian galloper Haradasun, now trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, won the race by a head from Darjina with Finsceal Beo third.
Seachange was only one length from Darjina in the Dubai Duty Free over a too-long 1777m in March and Finsceal Beo is the horse that relegated Seachange to sixth by a nose.
"The form out of that Duty Free race is absolutely amazing," said Rick Williams.
"Vodka won the group one mile by three lengths in Japan the other day and of course Jay Peg won the Singapore Cup.
"Everywhere you look tells you Seachange is a genuine international group one racehorse."
Caretaker New Zealand trainer Graeme Sanders decided after last week's serious hitout to give Seachange a further searching gallop yesterday morning.
"She flew in that solo gallop," said Williams, "we're right on track and we're in the mix."
Raceday rider Ted Durcan made a special trip to once again handle the New Zealand mare in training.
"It took Ted 400m to pull her up.
"I asked Ted for a tip for today's races and he said Seachange was his best ride for the entire Royal Ascot meeting."
It was a strong indication considering Durcan is stable rider for Henry Cecil, widely regarded as the best in England. "Ted tipped me one of his rides that finished third."
English bookmakers have shortened Seachange in to $16 from between $20 and $25 and Takeover Target is in to $5 from $6.
Amazingly, the King's Stand winner Equiano was the first ever runner for County Tyrone farmer James Acheson, who bought the 3-year-old only two weeks ago.
"I was advised to buy the horse by my bloodstock agent and something similar happened a few years ago with a show jumper we bought - six months later he won the World Championship," said Acheson.