Moment Of Change was unable to record a Group 1 win during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival but will have a chance to score a second win at the highest level of racing when he contests the Orr Stakes (1400m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing.
Moment Of Change has not won in over a year but will have a chance to return to the winners stall in the Australia Stakes, Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Moment Of Change raced consistently in Melbourne this spring but failed to win a race; finishing second in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), fourth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m), fourth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and third in the VRC Sprint Classic (1200m).
Trainer Peter Moody elected to take Moment Of Change to Perth for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and the son of Barely A Moment looked the winner when he drew level with Buffering, with 50 metres to run, but went down to the triple Group 1 winner by the smallest of margins.
The five-year-old picked up his only Group 1 win in the 2012 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400 metres and Moody told Racing Victoria that he will step Moment Of Change back up in distance for his 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival campaign.
Moment Of Change will start his preparation in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, a race won in 2012 by former stablemate Black Caviar, before stepping up to 1400 metres for the Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 8 and the Futurity Stakes at the same venue on February 22.
While Moment Of Change has been far from disgraced racing between 1000 metres and 1200 metres, recording two wins as well as second place finishes in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m), Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Winterbottom Stakes, his record between 1400 metres and a mile is superior.
He not only recorded his maiden Group 1 win over 1400 metres in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes but has never missed a placing over the trip; winning the Hillier’s Chocolates Handicap and finishing third in both the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m).
Moody won the Orr Stakes in three consecutive years from 2010 to 2010, with champion mares Typhoon Tracy and Black Caviar, while Typhoon Tracy took out the 2010 edition of the Futurity Stakes.
