Leading Melbourne trainer Peter Moody is hopeful that multiple Group 1 winner Moment Of Change will be fit to return to the racetrack in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Moment Of Change could return to the racetrack in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Moment Of Change was included in the twenty-six first acceptances for the weight for age Group 1 sprint on the eve of the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) and Moody was buoyant that he would be there after a resounding gallop at Caulfield this morning.
“He had a gallop on the course proper and he seems in good shape,” Moody told Racing.com.
“I’m happy with his condition.
“He looks better than he did pre the freshen up. He’s come through in the coat and he looks very well.”
Moment Of Change ran up the last 400m of his Caulfield course proper gallop in 23.26secs, indicating that he had recovered from a torn muscle he sustained when finishing at the tail for the eleven horse field in the Group 1 $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30.
The triple Group 1 winner shared the lead with the Gai Waterhouse trained Sweet Idea but started to feel the pinch at the 300m with Luke Nolen easing the six year old down before finishing just over eight lengths from his stable mate Dissident.
If Moment Of Change doesn’t make it to the Manikato Stakes, the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8 will be his next target.
Moment Of Change has shown his liking for the 1400m at Caulfield with all his three Group 1 victories being over that course and distance.
The Barley A Moment gelding won the 2012 Group 1 $400,000 Clamms Seafood Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and has been a consistent Group 1 performer ever since.
He then took up the bridesmaid tag with four placings at Group 1 level before scoring successive Caulfield Group 1 wins in the $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) on February 8 and the $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February 22.
The Manikato Stakes is shaping as one the sprinting highlights of the Spring Carnival with reigning Australian Racehorse Of The Year Lankan Rupee, last start Group 1 Moir Stakes winner Buffering, and rising sprint stars Chautuaqua and Terravista all listed in the first acceptances.
In the early market order for the Manikato Stakes, the Joe Pride trained Terravista is marked as the $3.60 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au, just shading Lankan Rupee at $3.80 and Chautuaqua at $4.40.
Buffering is also well up in the betting at $5.50 with Angelic Light and 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach next at $11 with Moment Of Change listed as a $26 chance.
