Consistent sprinter Moment Of Change has been installed favourite to repel the three-year-old challenge and claim his first win in more than 16 months in Saturday’s Group One CF Orr Stakes.
The Peter Moody-trained Moment Of Change hasn’t won since the Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes over the same course and distance (1400m) at Caulfield in the spring of 2012.
The gelding placed four times at Group One level last year but steps back to 1400m for the first time since his Rupert Clarke win.
Moody insisted the gelding would improve from his first-up run when beaten on the line in the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) on January 24 when ridden by Linda Meech.
Regular jockey Luke Nolen reunites with Moment Of Change on Saturday, having returned in recent weeks from a summer break.
“He ran well first up with improvement in him,” Nolen said.
“He galloped nicely on Tuesday and I’m happy with him going into it.”
Moment Of Change was the $2.30 favourite in the TAB’s market on Wednesday ahead of Cox Plate-winning three-year-old Shamus Award ($3.20) who resumes and will jump from the outside gate in the field of eight.
Fellow three-year-old Eurozone, chasing his first Group One win, is on the third line of betting at $6.
Trainer Robbie Laing opted to keep Victoria Derby winner Polanski to his own age in Saturday’s Autumn Stakes instead of the Orr.
While Moment Of Change holds favouritism, Shamus Award’s trainer Danny O’Brien is adamant the Cox Plate winner is ready to run a big race first-up.
“He’s had a faultless preparation from the time we brought him home from the Cox Plate,” O’Brien said.
“He’s been down at our Barwon Heads property all summer and he’s just thrived. We brought him back to Flemington a couple of weeks ago to have those two jumpouts the last two Fridays and they’ve both been excellent.
“We’re going there expecting him to run very well.”
Shamus Award is expected to take up a forward position in the first three but O’Brien said he would leave it to jockey Craig Williams to sum up the race as it unfolds.
