THE heavy rating at Tyers Park may have had some trainers worried before the Bathurst meeting but Moment of Clarity trainer Sarah Murray-Leslie was one trainer who was happy to have the softer track.

The chestnut four-year-old gelding was the winner of the $12,000 XXXX Gold Open Handicap (1410m) yesterday.

In it’s last start at Mudgee the horse went in as a favourite but could only manage sixth in a field of twelve.

“He hates it hard and it was like running on bitumen [in Mudgee] so to come here and get a slow track was great especially at home.”

When race stewards inspected the Tyers Park track on Friday they had it rated at Heavy 9 but with the fine weather over the weekend it was upgraded to a Soft 7 before racing commenced.

The Gregory McFarlane-trained Unlocked had firmed as favourite before the race but it was the Anne Blackett-trained Collingwood Storm that started strong.

Collingwood Storm took the lead early in the race with On My Honour a length behind and Unlocked third.

At the 850m mark Collingwood Storm held it’s length lead over Unlocked who was on the barrier and On My Honour in third with Moment of Clarity sitting behind Unlocked.

By the time Collingwood storm had reached the 400m mark it’s lead over Unlocked had been reduced to a neck and Moment of Clarity was moving to the outside and closing on On My Honour.

When they reached the final corner Unlocked had hit the lead wide with Moment of Clarity behind it but Moment of Clarity finished stronger and passed Unlocked to cross the line 1 3/4 lengths in front of Unlocked with Fly First half a length away in third.

“I had a really nice trail up behind Tye Angland [jockey on Unlocked] and I thought Tye was on the horse to beat and when I got off his back and got past him down the straight I thought the race was over,” Moment of Clarity jockey Grant Buckley said after the race.

Murray-Leslie was very happy with Buckley’s ride and said she would now give the horse a rest for a while.

“He was in a better part of the going out there, which is why you book the more experienced jockeys and that was right today. I knew it would come down to the line but I think he won quite convincingly,” the Bathurst trainer said.

“We are looking at giving him a holiday now.

“I was contemplating taking him to Hawkesbury on Sunday for a 1500m but he was going to have to carry 60 kilos and that's not ideal for him so after that good win we might give him a couple of weeks let up, not start him for five weeks and see how it plays.”