Immature galloper Sir Moments produced a pressure win to keep his winter carnival aspirations on course at Doomben on Saturday.
Sir Moments ($5) had been well beaten at his two runs from a spell but produced a withering burst to beat the favourite Hopfgarten ($2.50) by 1-1/4 lengths in the Listed Tails Handicap.
Trainer Steve O’Dea has aimed Sir Moments at the Group Two Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on April 25 and the Group One Doomben Cup on May 9.
“I must admit the pressure was on today after his first two efforts since a spell. He probably needed the run first-up and then he was very stirred up before his last start failure,” O’Dea said.
If there was a down side to the win, it was Sir Moments again wanting to lay in when in the clear and making a run.
“He is a still a big kid. But he is learning and he can finish very hard,” O’Dea said.
Winning jockey Tim Bell said Sir Moments had unlimited potential.
“He is still putting it all together. He seems to think the race is over when he hits the lead,” Bell said.
Sir Moments will again clash with Hopfgarten in the Hollindale and Doomben Cup.
Trainer Rob Heathcote said Hopfgarten had done a good job under the big weight from an outside barrier.
Meanwhile, former champion jockey Chris Munce continued his winning ways when Perplexity gave him his sixth metropolitan victory in the three months since he took up training.
Perplexity will run in the Chairman’s Handicap at the Gold Coast on April 25 before Munce finalises his winter carnival campaign.
