Talented four-year-old Moment Of Change confirmed what trainer Peter Moody already knew when scoring a dominant win in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield today.

Moment Of Change scores a dominant win in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The leading trainer has always had a high opinion of the gelding who had previously struggled to show his full potential but he performed like a genuine Group 1 winner today.

After jumping well from a wide barrier, jockey Luke Nolen pushed forward with the son of Barely A Moment who benefited from the positive ride.

In the straight he found an extra gear to kick clear from the field and eventually win by a length despite challenges from runner-up We’re Gonna Rock and third placegetter Solzhenitsyn.

“It’s been frustrating. It was a big effort to come from the outside there today,” Moody said.

“It’s no secret I hold him in very high regard. He’s just been dogged by a bit of bad luck. His record could’ve been a bit better but it was nice to see him get that Group 1 out of the way today.”

Moody had originally planned to take Moment Of Change to the Epsom Handicap at Randwick next week but after failing to fully adapt to the Sydney direction he is now looking at the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) on October 13.

“That’s always the intention of coming home [the Toorak]. We were happy to stay in Sydney for the Epsom but when he was just struggling that little bit to get round there we were happy to bring him home,” Moody said.

We’re Gonna Rock backed up his win in the Bobbie Lewis Quality with a strong runner-up finish while Queensland gelding Solzhenitsyn showed he was capable of stepping up to the big stage when third in his first Group 1 test.