Moment Of Change Has Edge Over Memsie Stakes Field

The 2014 Memsie Stakes is the major spring target for Moment Of Change and trainer Peter Moody believes that gives the consistent sprinter an advantage over the rest of his rivals in the field for the Group 1 event at Caulfield tomorrow.

Moment Of Change is chasing his fourth Group 1 win over the 1400 metres course at  Caulfield in the Memsie Stakes.

Moment Of Change is chasing his fourth Group 1 win over the 1400 metres course at Caulfield in the Memsie Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The majority of horses in the Memsie Stakes field have been set for races much further into the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but Moody believes that he has the triple Group 1 winner close to his best for the $400,000 race.

Moody revealed that Moment Of Change had a slight skin irritation before his first-up run in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 16, but Moody told Racing Ahead that the Barely A Moment gelding would have no excuses if he did not win the Memsie Stakes this weekend.

“He has come on nicely and that first-up run has brought him on well,” Moody said.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with him and he is in very good shape.

“He had a little bit of a skin irritation pre that first-up run and his coat has improved, it hasn’t come right

“I am pretty pleased with him and one advantage that he does have over his opposition is that this has been a target race.

“It is a Group 1, $400,000 and we would be silly not to target it with a horse with his record at the track and the trip.

“A few of these others are probably looking further down the track and a couple of them are here because of a late change of plans with the late Sydney weather.”

Moment Of Change was allocated barrier nine when the 2014 Memsie Stakes field was released earlier this week and Moody said that he is happy with the outside draw for the talented gelding.

Moody believes that the wide gate will give jockey Luke Nolen plenty of time to take up a forward, inside position of Moment Of Change and he is confident that the six-year-old will get a better run into the race than fellow on-pacer Sweet Idea.

“He is a go forward horse naturally and I think horses with his early brilliance, it allows them to take themselves there, while if they draw under they have to make sure that they hold something that they may be drawn out,” Moody said.

“You can just sort of cruise across and you would have to think that Sweet Idea, who is the leader in the race, is going to have to work doubly to go around him and take up the running as you would expect.”

Moment Of Change is currently available at 2014 Memsie Stakes odds of $6, with Boban ($3.80) now a clear favourite from Messene ($4.20) and Sweet Idea ($5.50) in the betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.