Galileo Gelding Takes Ebor

23rd August 2007

Purple Moon (4g Galileo - Vanishing Prairie, by Alysheba) landed a betting plunge when successful in the rich Ebor Handicap at York on Wednesday with connections now considering a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

With four wins and three placings from 11 starts, Purple Moon has put together a smart record but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

Originally purchased for 550,000 euros at the 2004 Deauville Yearling Sale, Purple Moon failed to live up to expectation, so was sent through the 2006 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale where he made 440,000 guineas, which is a record price for a horse sold at auction specifically to go jumping.

Sadly, Purple Moon proved a less than brilliant jumper so was gelded and transferred to Luca Cumani who has transformed the horse into the best handicap stayer in Europe.

Purple Moon is a half-brother to Group One winner Vespone being from the Alysheba mare Vanishing Prairie.

The last Australian crop of foals by Coolmore based Galileo are being born this spring and include Australia’s most famous foal, the colt from triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.