Moment of Change set up a mouth watering clash with superstar mare More Joyous after scoring a comprehensive win in Sunday’s Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Despite drawing the outside barrier and having to work to get across during the early stages, Moment of Change still had plenty left to race away in the straight and record an easy win.

The win was the fifth in nine starts for the highly regarded gelding – importantly his first at Group One level.

Bred and sold as a yearling in Western Australia, Moment of Change sports the familiar Slade Bloodstock colours after being purchased by that syndication company in 2010.

Trainer Peter Moody was impressed with the win and suggested the Toorak Handicap would be the Barely a Moment gelding’s next start.

“It’s been another big effort to come from the outside barrier today,” Moody said. “He has drawn outside barriers at his last three runs.”

“Luke (Nolen) didn’t run around the field. He took his time and knew what he had underneath him.”

“After nursing him through the first 200 to 300 metres, he got a nice little breather through the middle stages.”

“He was there to be run down but he’s just a bloody good horse this bloke.”

“I hold him in high regard. With a little bit more luck his record could have been better. It’s just nice to see him win a Group One.”

The win was yet another at racing’s elite level for Moody’s “partner in crime,” star jockey Luke Nolen.

“He had to do it all from start to finish,” Nolen said. “We ran good time but I didn’t feel we were going all that quick down the railway side.”

“He was resting comfortably on the bridle and that left him with a good kick in the straight.”

“Allowing him to bowl along is the way to ride him. He has a higher cruising speed than most horses and it was an advantage today under the handicap conditions of the race.”

Moment of Change has turned out an incredible money spinner for his connections – a number of them first time owners.

The Barely a Moment galloper was purchased for $50,000 by Slade Bloodstock – spotted and select at the 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale by Rob Slade.

Moment of Change was bred and sold at the Belmont based auction by Tracey Knott’s Sovereign Thoroughbreds.

He isn’t the first Group One winner of recent times bred by the WA based Sovereign operation. They bred and sold Hong Kong based Group One winning sprinter Eagle Regiment.

It was fitting Moment of Change should make history and become the first Group One winner for his sire, the Cornerstone Stud based Gilded Time entire Barely a Moment.

Bred by veteran WA horseman Dick Vincent, Barely a Moment was offered and sold at the Perth Yearling Sale in 2003. He was purchased there by Mark Pilkington for $58,000 and would race with great distinction for David Hayes winning three Group One races before retiring to stud.

It was fitting that his first Group One winner should be a graduate from the same sale in Perth – seven years on – a member of his first crop.

Moment of Change is the only runner to date for the well related Metal Storm mare Europium.

City placed at three, Europium is a half sister to the multiple stakes winner and $400,000 plus earner Mr Diagnosis. Both are from the RJ Peters Stakes winner Kosleta.

Winner: Moment of Change
Breeding: Barely a Moment-Europium (Metal Storm)
Race: MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes G1 (1400m)
Sold for: $50,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Sovereign Thoroughbreds
Buyer: Slade Bloodstock
Earnings: $419,888
Owner(s): Slade Moment Synd (Mgr: R Slade), J Barnett, D Whelan, H Sonnenberg, DTK Synd (Mgr: L Crellin), G Neradovsky, A Davis, R Peck, R Cook & A Kheir
Trainer: Peter Moody (Caulfield)