Moment of change out for the Autumn Carnival

Three times Group 1 winner Moment Of Change won’t get a chance to defend his C.F. Orr Stakes crown and is out for the remainder of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival after suffering a colic attack on Sunday morning.

Moment Of Change will miss the Melbourne Autumn Carnival after suffering a colic attack. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Moment Of Change will miss the Melbourne Autumn Carnival after suffering a colic attack. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Moment Of Change was rushed to the Southeast Equine Hospital and underwent emergency surgery with trainer Peter Moody reporting that the six year old has come through the operation successfully and is on the road to recovery.

“He had colic this morning (Sunday) so we took him to the vet clinic and we tried to treat him without surgery and waited as long as we could but they had to operate on him just before lunchtime,” Moody told Racing.com.

“He’s up and recovering at this point which is good but he’s not yet out of the woods.

“He’s an old stable favourite that’s done a hell of a job for us so his welfare will be paramount going forward. Hopefully for all of us it will involve racing but that’s something we’ll determine down the track.”

Managing owner Rob Slade was relieved that Moment of Change has come through the surgery and is hoping he can recover in time for a Spring Carnival campaign later in the year.

“Unfortunately, they did have to operate on him, which rules him out for the autumn now. He’ll have three months in the paddock and then we’ll bring him back for the spring,” Slade said.

Moment Of Change won a Group 1 double during the 2014 Autumn Carnival when he took out the $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and the $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) both at Caulfield and was on track to defend his titles after a first up third with 61.5kg in the Listed $120,000 W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on January 26.

The stable favourite’s other Group 1 success was during the 2012 Spring Carnival when he won the $400,000 Clamms Seafood Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over the same 1400m Caulfield course.

Moment Of Change has been a real warhorse for the Moody stable and has been placed in Group 1 company on three occasions down the Flemington straight with seconds in the 2013 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and in the $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and a third in the 2013 $1m VRC Sprint Classic (1200m).

The tough sprinter has also made two trips to the West for a second to Buffering in the 2013 Group 1 $500,000 Crown Perth – Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth but failed to fill the placings at his recent trip when sixth to Magnifisio in the same race in last year’s running.

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.