Moment Of Change keeps record intact with C.F. Orr Stakes win

Moment Of Change kept his perfect 1400m Caulfield record intact by claiming his second Group 1 victory in the $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) today.

Moment Of Change hangs on to win the C.F. Orr Stakes.

Moment Of Change hangs on to win the C.F. Orr Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

The Peter Moody trained Moment Of Change has started three times over the 1400m Caulfield course for three wins and that included his other Group 1 win, the $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) in the Spring of 2012.

Moment Of Change was able to bounce back from a first up defeat as favourite when second in the Group 2 $220,000 Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 24 to lead all of the way.

Luke Nolen, fresh back from a holiday, rated Moment Of Change ($2.35 favourite) perfectly in front and was able to hold on by a short half head to beat the Bart And James Cummings trained Eurozone ($6) with Cox Plate winner Shamus Award ($3.50) struggling into third place.

Moody and Nolen have made the C.F. Orr Stakes their own with three wins now from the last four runnings.

The trainer-jockey combination won with Typhoon Tracy in 2011 and again the following year with super mare Black Caviar.

“He carved out a good gallop. He’s been a fraction behind all prep but we were confident enough that he was forward enough today,” Moody said.

“I think there is nice improvement in him and he will come back for the Futurity in a couple of weeks again.”

“His record here three run at seven furlongs undefeated probably speaks for itself. He is a good benchmark for these good three year olds. I think you are going to see them go on and do a hell of a job.”

“And he has fallen into his slot with a race like this and the Futurity and maybe the Newmarket.”

Today’s Group 1 win was Moody’s first since Black Caviar won her last race in last year’s $1m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick ten months ago.

Cox Plate winner Shamus Award tracked Moment Of Change in the early and middle stages but couldn’t match it with the winner and faded slightly in the straight to be beaten one and half lengths

The Group 1 $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) will be run at Caulfield in two weeks then Moment Of Change could have another crack at the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8 after getting beaten a whisker by Shamexpress last year.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.