The Peter Moody trained Moment Of Change has made a positive start to the new season with a professional win in the listed Show County Quality (1200m) at Warwick Farm.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Moment Of Change made a good impression in just five starts last term and his first up win came as little surprise to punters with the son of Barely A Moment heavily supported in both early markets and again on track where he was eventually send off a $1.75 favourite.
There were few, if any, concerns in running as Moment of Change rolled across to track the leading pair Big Bonanza and Somepin Anypin and looked to be travelling better than them a long way from home.
Sent around that pair on turning Moment of Change looked to have his race well within his keeping for all but a fleeting moment when the Joe Pride trained Title managed to dive through a split and hit the front, but Moment Of Change was able to peg him back and win well on the line.
Title finished 1.3 lengths back in second with Somepin Anypin, who had appeared gone on the turn, rallying again late to finish just a further neck away in third.
The final time was a race record 1:09.42 with the final 600m in 34.27.
The win was a great start to the new season for Peter Moody's Sydney based operation and the indication post race was that Moment of Change could continue to fly the flag for the stable up north.
“It was good to start off the spring up here like that,” said Claire Cunningham who runs the Sydney stable for Moody.
“We didn't have the best preparation last time with this horse so it's good to strike a good track today and come away with the win.
“If he comes through his race well there are a few options up here, the main goal is the Epsom and back home there are options like the Toorak.”
Jockey Peter Robl's comments post race indicated that stepping out to the mile for races like the Epsom and Toorak later in the spring would pose little concern.
“I spoke to Peter Moody this morning and he said he just wanted to ride him to relax and was happy to take a sit,” said Robl.
“The race panned out perfectly for us and he relaxed beautifully, he was strong through the line.”
Robl was quick to praise Claire Cunningham and the Sydney operation that to be setting up a good foundation and is sure to have plenty of success this season.
“Credit goes to Claire; she's doing a great job at the stables in Sydney for Pete.”
