Peter Moody-trained Moment Of Change will be restricted to weight-for-age sprints during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival with the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) the major targets for the Group 1 winner.

Moment Of Change is set to contest the Manikato Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Moment Of Change has been competitive in handicap races over the last twelve months, finishing third in the 2012 Tramway Handicap (1400m) and second in the 2013 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), but connections have been unhappy with how the rising five-year-old has been treated by the handicapper.

The son of Barely A Moment was forced to carry the top-weight of 56.5kg in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington earlier in the year, which proved too heavy a burden as he was caught by Shamexpress, who carried only 51.5kg, in the final stages of the race.

According to managing owner Rob Slade, the 2012 Rupert Clarke Stakes winner is set to begin his spring campaign in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 14 before returning to Moonee Valley a fortnight later for the recently upgraded Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m).

From there he is set to contest the Group 1 double of the Manikato Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic with the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth on November 23 a possibility if the gelding is still up and running.

Slade is confident that Moment Of Change can add to his Group 1 tally when given the chance to take on other sprinters at level weights.

“We thought he was being harshly treated in handicaps, so we’ll stay in the weight-for-age races this time,” Slade told TVN.

“Peter Moody will have the final say of course, but races like the Manikato Stakes and Patinack Classic are both worth a million dollars and he’ll meet them all at the same weights.

“Peter says he’s come back very well and we’re looking forward to the spring.”