It wasn't until hours after Black Caviar's record-breaking Lightning Stakes return that her jockey Luke Nolen paid close attention to Moment Of Change's effort behind the champion sprinter.

From then on he has been eagerly awaiting Saturday's Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

Moment Of Change will start favourite in the famous 1200m sprint with Nolen aboard, having held the top line of betting since his 2-1/2 length second in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) three weeks ago.

Trainer Peter Moody's stable jockey rated the performance as "a very good Newmarket trial".

"It was good to see him run quite soundly behind what is the benchmark for Australian sprinters last start at weight-for-age, giving her two kilos and running her to two-and-a-half lengths in track record time," Nolen said.

"It just signals his quality and class I feel. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

With a fair bit going on during big race days, especially when you are riding Black Caviar, Nolen said it wasn't until later that night that he got a chance to really dissect the Lightning Stakes.

"I was more than happy with what I saw and Pete was over the moon," Nolen said.

He believes the time Moment Of Change ran at weight-for-age indicated the gelding could represent the "next generation" for the Moody stable.

"The last five or six years we've always had a very good horse in the camp at any one time," he said, pinpointing Typhoon Tracy and Black Caviar.

"Hopefully this bloke can continue on from that."

Nolen has won two of the past three Newmarkets on the Moody-trained Wanted in 2010 and Black Caviar a year later.

"It's been good to me, but a lot of the sprint races usually are being associated with the Peter Moody stable," he said.

While Nolen can't wait to get to Flemington on his return from a one-week suspension, Moody will not be at the track.

The premier trainer was in hospital on Friday with blood poisoning in a leg.

"It would be a good tonic if this horse can win tomorrow," Nolen said.

Moment Of Change was the $2.90 favourite on Friday ahead of three-year-old Better Than Ready ($5) and unbeaten Perth sprinter Barakey ($5.50).