Trainer Steven O’Dea is thrilled with the condition of Sir Moments and can’t wait to see the talented galloper return to Group level for the 2014 Villiers Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.

Sir Moments is set to be one of the leading chances in the 2014 Villiers Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Sir Moments stamped himself as a horse to watch when he took out the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) and Listed Daybreak Lover Handicap (1600m) at the end of his winter campaign and he returned to racing with a close third in the Padua College Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on November 1 before he took out the Super Starfish Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast on November 15.

The Choisir gelding returned to black type racing with a fast-finishing fifth behind I’m Imposing in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 29 and O’Dea told Sky Racing HQ this morning that he has been thrilled with the way that the four-year-old came out of that run heading into the Villiers Stakes.

“I am really happy with the way that he has pulled up from the run,” O’Dea said.

“He has done well in the week and a half since and his work has been very good.

“I am very happy with him and really looking forward to getting him to the big track at Randwick.”

Sir Moments jumped from towards the outside of the field in the Festival Stakes and regular jockey Tim Bell opted to settle the gelding towards the tail of the field in the early stages of the race.

O’Dea said that he would like to draw towards the inside with Sir Moments in the Villiers Stakes and he believes that the Queensland Guineas winner is capable of settling closer to the speed in the Group 2 event and still show an impressive turn-of-foot in the final stages of the race.

“It would be nice if he draws somewhere around five or six just so he draws in close enough to get a nice spot and preferably not draw the fence where he could get cluttered up,” O’Dea said.

“Just where he can slot in one off somewhere and be able to get to the outside when he needs to.

“He showed at the Gold Coast the other day that he can settle closer and still finish off well and it is just a matter of him finding a spot and being able to switch him off and coming with that sort of run.”

Sir Moments was purchased for $40,000 at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has already accumulated over $500,000 in prizemoney for connections.