Purple Moon: will be prepared for a summer Cup campaign

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Purple Moon to miss Sheema Classic

PURPLE MOON has returned home to Newmarket from the Dubai Carnival and will be prepared with a Cup campaign in mind, with the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on June 17 likely to be his main midsummer target.

The Craig Bennett-owned seven-year-old was beaten only a nose and short head behind Eastern Anthem in the Dubai Sheema Classic 12 months ago and was being prepared for a repeat bid.

However those plans had to be shelved when he was forced to miss his intended warm up in the Dubai City Of Gold at Meydan last week with an abscess on his foot.

Trainer Luca Cumani's wife Sara said: "We couldn't let him run in the Sheema Classic after a year off. He is now back at home and being aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup. He is quite a stuffy horse and will probably have two outings beforehand but they have yet to be decided."