Classy galloper Sir Moments will take a new direction towards middle-distance racing after he resumes at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Sir Moments will be having his first start since a luckless Sydney trip when he runs in the Gold Coast Stakes (1200m).
The gelding has always been earmarked as a horse with a genuine future and he went some way to confirming it with wins in the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m) and the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1600m) last season.
In both races he produced above-average finishing sectional times, mowing the opposition down in the final 200m.
Sir Moments was taken to Sydney for the Group Two Villiers Stakes at Randwick in December but was wide throughout before finishing seventh behind fellow Queensland galloper Rudy.
Trainer Steve O’Dea has taken heart from Rudy’s performance in the early part of the Sydney autumn but he isn’t tempted to give Sir Moments another interstate campaign.
“There isn’t much between Rudy and us and my horse didn’t have much luck in Sydney,” O’Dea said.
“But this time we will be staying at home and concentrating on the winter.”
He said Sir Moment’s missions would be the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25 and the Group One Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 16.
“We have always wanted to try him over a middle distance and these races look ideal. I know they are both at weight-for-age but we think he will be up to it,” O’Dea said.
Sir Moments has won up to 1600m but O’Dea is confident he will run out a strong 2000m.
He pointed out Sir Moments’ dam was by noted staying sire Zabeel and the horse relaxed in his races like a middle-distance galloper.
Sir Moments’ regular jockey Tim Bell will be in Sydney to ride Tinto in the Coolmore Classic and Jim Byrne will take over.
“Jim is a very experienced rider and should suit Sir Moments,” O’Dea said.
