Moon Will Bid To Stop The Nation

A trip to the Melbourne Cup is on the agenda for Purple Moon after he completed his metamorphosis from failed jumper to top-class stayer in the totesport Ebor at York.

Craig Bennett paid 440,000 guineas for Purple Moon at the sales and sent him hurdling with Nicky Richards but after he failed to set the winter game alight, he was transferred to the expert care of Luca Cumani.

He had clearly flourished and after winning at Glorious Goodwood, he was sent off a rock-solid 7-2 favourite for the famous old handicap.

He was the shortest-priced winner of the race in years ? in stark contrast to 2006's 100-1 skinner Mudawin.

The manner of victory was straightforward as Jamie Spencer brought Purple Moon steadily through from the back of the field, hitting the front a furlong from home and maintaining the gallop despite the late challenge of Honolulu.

'I don't think it was a great training performance,' said a modest Cumani.

'We were supposed to have 8lb in hand so he was entitled to win, but he won well.

'When you go in a race like this and you are the short-priced favourite you are expected to win, so the pressure is quite big but that's why you do the job.'

Purple Moon is a best-priced 20-1 with William Hill for the Melbourne Cup ? ?the race that stops a nation' ? in November and half those odds with Coral.

Cumani continued: 'We will now look at the logistics of travelling there and make a decision.'

Cumani has taken the Ebor three times in the last decade ? courtesy also of Mephisto's controversial but well-backed win in 2004 and Vicious Circle in 1999 - while it was a first for Spencer.

He reported: 'I've been placed in it four times. I rode one in it for Mick Easterby I thought would win and it broke a leg, so it was about time I won the race.'

Honolulu, who was punted into 7-1 on just his fourth ever start, flew from the back to close the winning margin to three-quarters of a length and was slashed to the same price by the sponsors for the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: 'He was in the Voltigeur as well but we ran him here for more experience. It was a fine run for a three-year-old with such a big weight.'

Scriptwriter (11-2) gave everything before weakening into third, while Minkowski made the frame in fourth as a well-backed 8-1 shot, adding to the bookies' woes.

A downcast Damian Walker of totesport reported: 'Last year's winner was the best result we've ever had in the race and 12 months later this was probably the worst ever result. Punters have got their losses back, albeit a year late.'

(C) PA Sport