Series stars to stud: Pether’s Moon

Pether’s Moon is crowned the shock winner of the 2015 Investec Coronation Cup. Image coutesy of Racingfotos.com.

With the 2015 QIPCO British Champions Series now over, we take the time to take a look back at the stars that shone during the Flat season.

Over the next two months in this weekly feature, we profile the careers of some of your racing heroes destined for the breeding barn, starting off with Investec Coronation Cup star – Pether’s Moon.

By multiple Group 1 winner Dylan Thomas, the middle distance-bred star saved his career-best until the very end on the hallowed turf of Epsom Downs racecourse.

Up until his 2015 campaign, the Richard Hannon-trained colt had promised to be an exciting horse without really producing the goods at the very highest level, but that was to change.

Pether’s Moon was campaigned with ease as a three-year-old.

Although not running in the best races, he was being geared up for the big festivals later on in his career.

In 2014, Glorious Goodwood success came in the Glorious Stakes, beating the controversial St Leger champion, Encke.

Despite being in the care of Goodwood masters Richard Hughes and Hannon, the John Manley-owned colt showcased that he had an exciting future in the Group 3 contest.

Victory on the Sussex Downs was followed by a trip to Turkey, to race in the Veliefendi International Bosphorous Cup – a Group 2 race that has recently been targeted by British trainers.

A comfortable success helped to show that not only was he a talented horse, but that he could travel abroad as well. Pether’s Moon’s final win of the season came at Ascot in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes, with big things on the mind of connections in 2015.

Those dreams were to come to fruition.

On his seasonal debut, defeat to Arab Spring at Newbury, followed by a dismal performance in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket meant that Pether’s Moon didn’t get off to the best of starts to his big season.

But, success was to come on the undulating track of Epsom Downs.

Disregarded by pundits and racing fans for the great Gallic battle between Meydan heroine Dolniya and QIPCO British Champions Series star Flintshire, Pether’s Moon caused quite a shock to repel his rivals in the closing stages of the Investec Coronation Cup under unsung hero, Pat Dobbs.

A first Group 1 middle distance success for Hannon, Pether’s Moon had deservedly reached the heights of Series stardom.

Due to injury, future success was never realised. The decision last month was taken to retire the star.

He now heads to Yorton Farm Stud, where it could transpire that the very best of Pether’s Moon is yet to come. Potential Derby and Oaks contenders could run as early as 2019.