Peter Moody will send his consistent Group 1 sprinter Moment Of Change to Perth to chase another Group 1 win in the $500,000 Crown Perth – Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 23.
Moment Of Change scoring his first Group 1 win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Moment Of Change scored his first Group 1 victory winning the $400,000 Clamms Seafood Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in the Spring of 2012, and has been placed at Group 1 level on three occasions since.
Owner Rob Slade will give the Barely A Moment five year old a chance to turn the tables on Buffering after finishing behind the Queensland sprinter at his last three starts.
Moment Of Change finished fourth to Samaready in the Group 1 $450,000 Programmed Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27 when Buffering was second.
Buffering then came out and won back to back Group 1s with victories in the $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, with Moment Of Change in fourth spot, and then scored again with an all the way win in the $1m VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington last Saturday with Moody’s sprinter finishing strongly for third.
Slade said that if the leading Melbourne trainer was happy with the way Moment Of Change has pulled up after Saturday, he would give the all clear to travel to Western Australia.
“Pete (Moody) sent an email around this morning saying the horse had come through it in excellent fashion,” Slade told Racing Network.
“Pete has nominated him for both the Winterbottom and Railway, but the Winterbottom is the preferred race.
“Ascot should suit him around a bend and a big long straight will suit. He should be able to lay back a bit then balance up and give himself a shot.
“You can’t take anything away from the winner, but the Winterbottom gives us another chance.”
“He ran well as he always does, we hope we can crack it in Perth.”
Queensland’s leading trainer Robert Heathcote is also heading to Ascot with Buffering, hoping to make it three Group 1 wins in row in the Winterbottom Stakes.
Buffering has finally been rewarded for his consistency with back to back Group 1 wins after being the bridesmaid on numerous occasions including several placings behind the undefeated queen Black Caviar and mighty sprinter Hay List.
“I’m still going to Perth because I’ve promised the boys so hopefully Buffering will be a nice drawcard for their carnival then he’ll come home to Brisbane,” Heathcote said after Buffering was successful at Flemington on Saturday.
