East Everleigh trainer Richard Hannon describes Pether’s Moon as a perfect candidate for the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 18 following the four year old’s win at Glorious Goodwood last Friday.
Pether's Moon likely to head to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup. Fawkner, above, winning the 2013 Caulfield Cup. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Even though the English trainer was a bit concerned during the race with the way Pether’s Moon was travelling, he was more than pleased with the winning result in the Group 3 £60,000 Coutts Glorious Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs) and is strongly considering a trip to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup.
“I wasn’t that happy watching it,” Hannon told the Racing Post.
“Hughesie had to get after him and it looked like he was beaten but then he came on the bridle.
“We like him a lot and he’s very much one we’d like to keep as he’s still growing into his frame. There are plenty of options for him abroad and the Caulfield Cup is one we’re considering.”
Winning rider Richard Hughes had to work overtime on Pether’s Moon before the up and coming stayer was able to beat Encke by one and quarter lengths.
The recently acquired Gai Waterhouse stayer Cafe Society also ran a nice race to finish third in the seven horse field and will also be heading to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
“I think we’ll have to put something on his head. He is not ungenuine, he is just lazy,” Hughes said.
“You think you are going better than you are and you don’t find a whole lot but he finds enough to get there.
“He is a big, late maturing horse and Australia is written all over him, he is made for it.”
The Glorious Stakes was Pether’s Moon’s first win at Group level but the Dylan Thomas entire had been placed twice at Group 2 level on three occasions.
In May Pether’s Moon ran second to Gospel Choir in the Group 2 £60,000 QATAR Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs) at Newmarket.
Then two runs later he ran third to Telescope in the Group 2 £200,000 Hardwicke Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 21 followed that with a third to Cavalryman in the Group 2 £100,000 Princess Of Wales’s Boylesport.com Stakes (1 mile, 4 furlongs) at Newmarket on July 10.
In early Caulfield Cup markets, Pether’s Moon is marked as a $21 chance behind the Chris Waller trained Our Voodoo Prince, Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance and Sydney Cup winner The Offer, all at the head of the betting at $13.
