Exciting three-year-old Moment Of Change will miss the Bill Stutt Stakes after trainer Peter Moody decided to wind up his spring campaign.
Moody had entered the Barely A Moment gelding for Friday night’s Group Two feature but advised Racing Victoria stewards on Tuesday that he would be spelled.
“I think he will be a much better horse in the autumn,” Moody said.
Unbeaten in two starts, Moment Of Change won his race debut at Murtoa by 10 lengths and brought that form to the city when he won unextended by nearly four lengths over 1300 metres at Sandown on September 14.
Moody also has promising filly Cute Emily nominated for the Stutt but remains undecided about running her.
Moody’s racing manager Jeff O’Connor said the stable was still weighing up its options with the daughter of Choisir who has won three of her six starts including the SA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in Adelaide last autumn.
She has been winless in three spring starts.
Meanwhile, trainer Rick Hore-Lacy confirmed Chase The Rainbow would run in the Stutt after he scratched the promising stayer from last Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas Prelude because of the hard track.
Hore-Lacy said the weather forecast for rain this week should ensure Chase The Rainbow gets the give in the ground he needs at the Valley.
Dean Yendall will ride the grey who is a dual Geelong winner and last start stormed home from last to finish a close second to Specter in the Henry Bucks (1400m) at Flemington on September 3.
AAP TURF
