Melbourne based horseman Peter Moody, of Black Caviar fame, has touched down in Perth preparing to saddle-up Moment Of Change in Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes 2014 who he rates a big chance with the right draw.
Moment Of Change is a big 2014 Winterbottom Stakes chance with the right barrier according to trainer Peter Moody. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
The Barley A Moment six-year-old is second pick in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au to win this weekend’s $750,000 Group 1 Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) paying $4.60 to win.
He went out at similar odds 12 months ago when, last Perth Summer Racing Carnival, the multiple Group 1 weight-for-age champ was narrowly defeated by Buffering.
Rob Heathcote’s Brisbane raider Buffering became the third favourite in as many years to win the Winterbottom joining Barakey (2012) and Ortensia (2011).
This year Moody is hoping last year’s runner-up can go one better and break the trend of the punters’ picks as he sits on the second line of betting behind Robbie Griffiths’ also visiting eastern state mare Angelic Light ($3).
Ahead of last year’s Winterbottom Stakes Moment Of Change came via some crack Melbourne form including a last start third to Buffering in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.
He ran in the same lead-up this season, the race now known as the Darley Classic, but while running well could only manage to finish three lengths away fifth behind the winner Terravista.
That was his third unplaced run on the trot, Moment Of Change not having won a race since taking out the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes – Futurity Stakes double over 1400m at Caulfield back in February.
Still, Moody believes he’s tracking well for a big Perth run rating his Darley Classic effort as better than it reads on paper and his improvement since as impressive.
“He had a bit of a freshen-up in the middle of his campaign as he hurt his back,” Moody told the Herald Sun.
“I think there’s a bit more upside this year going from Flemington to Perth. That was a good effort at Flemington. That’s about where he sits in the food chain (of the season’s best sprinters).”
Moody is also keen to see where in the 13-horse field his galloper will jump from with the Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw to be conducted live from the Perth Crown Casino from 5pm local time this evening.
Inside barriers have been crucial to Winterbottom Stakes success with barrier one producing more winners, five, than any other gate in the race since 1983.
The next most successful Winterbottom Stakes barriers are then 2, 5 and 8 all with four winners each.
The exception however is barrier 13 which has produced three Winterbottom Stakes champions in that time.
If all goes to plan Moody confirmed he was considering staying in WA with Moment Of Change to back-up in the $200,000 Group 3 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) on Kingston Town Classic Day, December 6.
Stay tuned to Races.com.au for the full 2014 Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw.
In the meantime access the current markets on the race, as well as those for the Railway Stakes on Saturday, open online now at our preferred online betting agency Ladbrokes.com.au!
