Peter Moody says Moment Of Change can improve and go one better when he returns to have another crack at the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Moment Of Change came perilously close to downing Buffering in last year’s Winterbottom Stakes but was denied victory by an agonising nose margin.
Moody believes Moment Of Change returns to Perth in better shape than 12 months ago after meeting hot Group 1 opposition in Melbourne.
Against elite sprinters he ran eighth to Lankan Rupee in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) before a fifth to Terravista in the Darley Classic (1200m).
“He has run into the two best sprint fields in the world let alone in Australia,” said Moody on TAB Radio.
“If he can carry that form over and we saw him do it last year he should be in the race with a good chance.
“He is in as good as form as last year and is coming off a slightly better campaign after a back injury mid spring.
“We had to back off him a little so he is probably coming back on an upward spiral compared to last year.”
Moody believes fellow Victorian rival Angelic Light will provide the stiffest opposition to Moment Of Change.
Angelic Light lost a year of her career to injury but made a spectacular return to racing at Moonee Valley.
She took out the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) and was placed in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
“I have great respect for the opposition but Angelic Light is a super mare who arguably should have won the Manikato,” said Moody.
“Ratings wise she is not far off super sprinters Terravista and Chautaugua and has a win over Lankan Rupee two runs ago.
“I’m not kidding myself she is a super mare and if she arrives here in that sort of form she is going to be hard to beat.”