The Peter Moody trained Moment Of Change is set to clash with outstanding three year old Manawanui in the Royal Sovereign Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday week.

Moment Of Change has built up a huge reputation, be it all on two wins in restricted class in Victoria, but jockey Blake Shinn was quick to praise the three year old after an impressive barrier trial win at Rosehill today.

The unbeaten gelding led all of the way in the 900m trial beating BRC Sires Produce winner Hot Snitzel, running faster time than the older horses on a rain affected track.

Shinn has been booked to ride Moment Of Change in the Group 2 $175,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) and also the Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill two weeks later.

Trainer Ron Leemon is leaning towards starting his Group 1 winner Manawanui first up in the Royal Sovereign and this will be a good pointer for Moody and Shinn to see if the wraps are right.

“Very impressive horse, excellent,” Shinn said.

“He jumped very well and led comfortably. Hot Snitzel was on my outside and we travelled beautifully, with his ears pricked, and got around the track comfortably.

“I didn’t open him right up in the straight because the track was a genuine slow but he gave me a very good feel.

“He’s a very exciting horse.”

If everything goes to plan and he lives up to expectations his main Sydney target will be the Group I $500,000 Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 17.

Moment Of Change was a $50,000 purchase out of the 2010 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sales and Moody has stuck to his plan that he uses with a lot of his young horses by taking them to country tracks for their early racing to gain experience.

Jockey Linda Meech had an armchair ride at Murtoa winning by ten lengths in 1200m Maiden at the short odds of $1.35 on August 27.

Moody then took the three year old to Sandown two and a half weeks later and where he again was an easy winner for Meech when romping home by almost four lengths in a 0-72 Handicap over 1300m.