NEWS
Cumani aims Purple Moon at Dubai Sheema Classic
Posted: Friday, December 19, 2008 9:26 AM
by Myra Lewyn
Craig Bennett’s British-based stayer Purple Moon has come heartbreakingly close to winning two of the world’s most prestigious races and will spend the winter in Dubai to prepare for another crack at a breakthrough Group 1 victory—the Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) in March at Nad al Sheba racecourse.
Luca Cumani trains the five-year-old Galileo (Ire) gelding, the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) runner-up who was collared in the final stride by Doctor Dino (Fr) in the $3,080,000 Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) on December 14 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Bennett purchased Purple Moon, previously owned by Coolmore, in 2006 as a three-year-old at a horses-in-training sale. He originally envisioned the chestnut as a hurdler and Purple Moon showed promised early last year, winning his first race over the jumps then finishing second, both in races at Musselburgh in Scotland. Purple Moon did not enjoy jumping, however, and soon was transferred to Cumani to continue his career in flat racing.
Purple Moon rewarded Cumani with victories in the 2007 Coutts Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and the prestigious Ebor Handicap at York before finishing second, a half-length behind, Efficient in the Melbourne Cup.
Winless in four starts this season, Purple Moon earned a close runner-up finish to Crossharbour in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Fr-G2) on October 19 at Longchamp, then finished ninth of 17 runners in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in his start prior to the Hong Kong Vase.
Bennett is looking forward to Purple Moon continuing his international career in the 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28.
“You’d have to think he’ll be right up there in international Group 1 races at a mile and a half,” Bennett said. “He’s a well-traveled horse, and I’ve been with him every time. We went to Japan, Melbourne, and Longchamp, and now we’ll go to Dubai with him and have a bit of fun out there.
“One day he’ll land one [a Group 1 victory]. …I’ve got a great trainer. You wouldn’t put a horse with anybody better than Luca.”
Cumani expects Purple Moon to race once at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, which begins January 15, before the Dubai Sheema Classic, a race in which he finished fourth with Endless Hall in 2001 when it was a Group 2 event.
Purple Moon will be joined in Dubai by German group-placed stakes winner Waldvogel, a four-year-old Polish Precedent colt who previously was trained by Andreas Wohler.
“We have bought Waldvogel more as a traveling companion for Purple Moon, so I’m not sure what he’s going to run in at this stage,” said Cumani, who also has stayers Swop and Presvis penciled in for handicaps during the Carnival.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
