KEY POINTS:
Seachange won't be as lonely as you think taking on the Aussies for the first time today - she's got at least one Australian already on her side. That should really read by her side.
In keeping with the Victorian Racing Club's recently introduced policy, every runner in a group one race at Flemington must have a security guard by its side for the 24 hours leading into the race.
That's 76 security guards to cover each of the runners in five group ones on what is considered Australia's greatest overall raceday.
Seachange's ownership manager Rick Williams couldn't believe the VRC would bother to send a security guard to the rural Victorian area of Romsey to the property of the mare's Queensland owner Dick Karreman, but the club insisted.
At the Flemington trackwork session on Thursday morning Williams told the VRC representative: "You don't really need to bother - there are only four people in the world that know where she is.
"There's no hope of her being nobbled - they couldn't find her."
Seachange is taking on one of Australia's best mares in Rewaaya, but Melbourne bookmakers report there has been reasonable backing for the New Zealand mare, bringing her price in overnight from $7 to $6.
The key to the race is Seachange's No 2 barrier.
With her ability to clear the gates very fast, Seachange should get the perfect run behind the leaders for Gavin McKeon.
Seachange is rated as third favourite - Divine Madonna being considered the main danger to Rewaaya - and at yesterday's press conference her rider Kerryn McEvoy was confident of a huge showing.
"I fancy her chances," he said.
Wayne Hawkes, Melbourne foreman for his father, Sydney-based trainer John Hawkes, similarly provided a push for their representative Mnemosyne despite what looks to be a very ordinary 8846 formline.
"We beat Rewaaya last time we met her and our mare is one for one in Melbourne," said Wayne Hawkes. "She's working well and the only negative is an ordinary barrier draw.
"And, incidentally, if anyone is interested in what I think about the Derby, I'm tipping John O'Shea's horse Get Square. Efficient may run the distance, Get Square definitely will."
Hawkes thought stable runner Malcolm gave the team a big chance in the final race on the programme.
He wasn't sure what to make of their pair Railings and Headturner in the A$750,000 ($862,000) Mackinnon Stakes going forward to Tuesday's A$5 million Melbourne Cup.
"They'll have to run well here or they'll be going to the spelling paddock and prepared for next year.
"There's no saying Headturner might have been disappointing last start - he was. You have to be careful you don't give horses one run too many at carnivals like this. If you do you have to send them home in body bags."
