You might think that after missing out on last year’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) by just a nose, connections of Moment Of Change would be wary about travelling to Perth again so soon. However they are very keen for the gelding to travel west, this time looking for some serious revenge.
Moment Of Change is ready to serve his revenge in the Winterbottom Stakes after finishing second last year. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The Peter Moody-trained sprinter has been booked on a flight to Perth this Friday for the $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes on November 22, Saturday week.
Moment Of Change was beaten by Buffering in last year’s race but connections can be rest assured the six-year-old gelding won’t have to face anything of that caliber this year.
“I’m told the locals are smart but not exceptional so he’ll be very competitive we’re hoping,” Managing owner Rob Slade told Racing Network.
“History tells us he’s better around a bend so he might have a good few weeks in the west with a bit of luck.”
Slade added that stable plans for Moment Of Change are to remain in Perth and start the gelding in the Group 3 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) two weeks after the 2014 Winterbottom Stakes, which is over his favoured distance of 1400 metres.
Moment Of Change’s lead-up race of choice to the Winterbottom Stakes was once again the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m). The gelding finished third in last year’s race before heading to Perth but could only manage a fifth place finish in the 2014 Darley Classic on Saturday.
Despite this, Slade feels he ran just as well as last time, it was just a hotter race.
“We feel he ran at least as well as last year and actually ran faster time,” Slade said.
“It was a hot race alright.”
Slade added that Moment Of Change had pulled up extremely well after the race and is ready to travel to Perth on Friday.
Moment Of Change is on the second line of betting for the Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au, offering a price of $6 to win the race. He is behind only Angelic Light at $3.80, who was second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) last time out.
