KEY POINTS:
Every night this week Geoff Small has lain in bed with the demons of defeats swirling in his head.
But every morning they have been exorcised the second he lays eyes on his champion pacer Changeover.
On a day of superstars at Ashburton today, Changeover is the main attraction, looking to cap an incredible and controversial season in the $200,000 3-year-old male pacing section of the Harness Jewels.
While the meeting contains many good horses, Changeover is something else - a champion.
Which means the pressure on trainer Small is intense, especially as his lead-up to today's sprint has been anything but perfect.
Changeover goes into today without a race in five weeks, while key rival Montecito has been flying.
He has also had only two workouts, neither of which has been of great use.
But, worst of all, he has drawn one on the second line; the worst possible position for such a freakish stayer.
Those negatives have not been lost on Small this week.
But he thinks they could be outweighed by one giant positive - Changeover is better than ever.
Maybe not fitter but better.
"This is a different horse from the one who won the Derbys earlier this season," enthuses Small.
"Back then he looked like a top 3-year-old but now he looks like a top older horse.
"I thought this week he might be a bit fat but it is not that. It is that he is so much stronger and bigger all over.
"I know there are some doubts and a few things against him this week but he just looks amazing. He is ready."
Changeover faces the prospect of settling behind Montecito and Gotta Go Cullen, pacers who will not be easy to pass in a blazing mile.
From one on the second line driver David Butcher can either follow out fast beginner Rocket Reign and push off the markers or hook straight on to the back of Gotta Go Cullen and hope he carts him into the race.
"I'll leave that up to David because so much can happen early in a race like this," said Small. "But I have the right man for the job in the sulky."
If Changeover pushes off early and gets handy he should be too good while a cart into the race behind Gotta Go Cullen also sounds pretty nice.
The one thing his army of supporters will not want will be to see him beyond midfield if Montecito gets an easy lead.
Small has been impressed but not surprised by Montecito's recent Addington wins.
"When horses like him, Changeover or Gotta Go Cullen go back to grade racing you expect them to win because they are the future open class stars. But he will take some beating."
While every horse at Ashburton today is racing for huge money and a place in the history books, Changeover is racing for something more.
If he can win his final challenge of the New Zealand season, he may just secure enough votes to edge out Flashing Red for the Horse of the Year honours.
The latter must be favourite for that award after winning the New Zealand and Auckland cups but Changeover's resume is already extraordinary.
He has won the Rising Star, Sires' Stakes (although he is set to lose that because of a caffeine positive), Sales Series Pace, Woodlands Northern Derby, Flying Stakes, New Zealand Derby and Southern Supremacy Stakes.
Those wins have made him a champion. Today, he will need to be one.
