Cumani Over The Moon About Cup Bid

Luca Cumani believes Purple Moon is the 'right horse' to be travelling around the world with for a tilt at the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

After failing to take to hurdles, the four-year-old was transferred to the care of the Italian, who has coaxed the best out of him.

Fourth in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot, he has since won a Listed event at Goodwood and the most valuable handicap in Europe, the totesport Ebor, after which the Melbourne Cup emerged as his target.

'The plan is still very much to go to the Melbourne Cup,' Cumani told At The Races.

'We were very worried about the outbreak of Equine Influenza in Australia because of the possibility that it could have spread to Victoria and then they would have had to cancel the race.

'But at the moment the horse is in very good form and he is in quarantine. He is in Newmarket so he can carry on training regularly.

'We are planning for him to leave on September 30 and arrive on October 2 in Melbourne. We have another two horses in quarantine to help him with his training.'

Purple Moon now looks very well handicapped following the exploits of Honolulu, second in the Ebor, in the St Leger at the weekend.

'It wasn't a bad run by Honolulu in the Leger as it wasn't a fast and furious pace as Mick Kinane on Mahler dictated it to suit himself,' Cumani said.

'I think he franked the form, just as Stotsfold did when winning at Goodwood. He had finished behind Purple Moon in a Listed race before the Ebor.

'We are pretty sure we are taking the right horse there and at the moment Jamie Spencer is going to ride him.

'He stayed a mile and six on the Flat in the Ebor and the Melbourne Cup, even though it is over two miles, is not run at a flat out pace. They go quick for the first four furlongs and the take a pull until about four furlongs from home.

'If it is run like it normally is, provided Jamie can get a good position, I think he should get the trip.

'He could run in the Caulfield Cup beforehand, it depends entirely on how he travels and if he acclimatises quickly.

'Bauer has also gone into quarantine and the Cup is still a possibility but he will come out of quarantine to run at Newbury on Friday in the Arc Trial.

'Depending on the result of that race we will then decide where he runs next, there are three different possibilities for him.

'He could still go back and start a new quarantine spell but he wouldn't be able to rejoin Purple Moon. He will be by himself and he will arrive a week later.

'He could stay in England and run in races like the Cumberland Lodge and the St Simon or, if he was to run really well, a race like the Canadian International could be considered.

'He's a funny horse because he showed us absolutely nothing as a two-year-old and we thought very little of him but he has gradually got better and better.

'If you look after them and go gently with them they reward you in the end.'

(C) PA Sport