Multiple stakes winner Sir Moments is again on the a path to his first Group One win nearly a year after connections had hoped he could join the elite class.
Sir Moments has won five stakes races including the 2014 Group Two Queensland Guineas and trainer Steve O’Dea is sure he is up to Group One company.
However, things haven’t always gone right for Sir Moments who has had to be carefully managed as he prepared for his first start in almost a year.
Sir Moments will be taking a similar path to the Group One Doomben Cup as was programmed last year when he resumes in the Gold Coast Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
He ran sixth in the 2015 Gold Coast Stakes hasn’t run since his close second to Leebaz in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.
O’Dea was confident Sir Moments could be competitive in the Doomben Cup a fortnight later but he lacerated his hind legs while on the horse walker and was scratched.
Sir Moments was spelled and returned with the $1 million Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) in January as his main target.
“He got sick and spent ten days at the vet hospital. I had no choice but to give him another break,” O’Dea said.
Sir Moments trialled at Deagon last week and finished third.
“He hit the line hard and that is what we wanted to see. It pleased me because he really put in over the final 200 metres,” O’Dea said.
“Sir Moments has worked well this week so all being well he will be there on Saturday. He is drawn off the track but if it rains they come deep at the Gold Coast anyway.”
The plan is for Sir Moments to then go to the Listed Tails Handicap and Hollindale Cup before the Doomben Cup.
