Sir Moments showed he was on the right comeback road from injury and illness with a pleasing barrier trial at Deagon on Tuesday.

Sir Moments was having his first serious hit-out since finishing a close second to Leebaz in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast in April.

He was rated a good chance in the Group One Doomben Cup a fortnight later but lacerated his hind legs in a stable accident and was scratched.

Trainer Steve O'Dea gave Sir Moments a good spell and brought him back into work with the $1 million Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) in January as his main target.

"He got sick and spent 10 days at the vet hospital so we had to turn him out again," O'Dea said.

Sir Moments has been back in work for several weeks and showed he was getting near his best when third behind noted trial horse Dream Of Slips over 800m at Deagon.

"He hit the line hard and that is what we wanted to see. It pleased me and provided everything is OK he will run in the Gold Coast Stakes over 1200 metres next Saturday," O'Dea said.