Peter Moody was a happy trainer despite stable star Moment Of Change's first defeat at Caulfield in Saturday's Listed Regal Roller Stakes.

Moment Of Change was unable to concede 8kg and beat the speedster Hard Stride but Moody preferred to look ahead to the gelding's next challenge in the Group One Memsie Stakes over his pet 1400-metre trip.

"He had a good run and ran home well but he'll improve a lot from that run going into the Memsie in a fortnight," Moody said.

The race produced contrasting results for Flemington training partners Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra with their charge Hard Stride notching his first stakes win while the team's other runner Pillar Of Creation failed to beat a runner home.

Jockey Craig Williams's return to Melbourne racing after riding stints in Japan and Europe produced immediate success courtesy of a smart front-running ride.

Williams rated Hard Stride comfortably in front before the durable galloper won by two lengths in the 13th run of an autumn and winter campaign which could extended to the spring.

"He just doesn't show any signs of training off," Zahra said.

"Every start we say he's going to the paddock for a spell but he just keeps thriving on his racing."

Zahra said he and Ellerton would look for a similar race for Hard Stride but the four-year-old would have a few days off at owner David Moodie's property.

Moment Of Change's stablemate Club Command was third ahead of the Bletchingly Stakes winner Thiamandi.

Thiamandi's trainer Lloyd Kennewell said the mare had every chance but failed to produce the same acceleration that helped her to a career-best win in the Bletchingly Stakes.