Spencer hoping Moon can shine

Aug 22 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

JAMIE SPENCER expects totesport Ebor favourite Purple Moon to close to victory, providing the ground doesn’t go too soft.

The Irish jockey will parnter Luca Cumani’s big hope the prestigious handicap, the feature of the three-day meeting on the Knavesmire.

Having won in taking fashion in a Listed race at Goodwood earlier this month, Purple Moon has been all the rage with punters. And with the four-year-old’s liking for a quicker surface, Spencer is hoping for sunny weather to dry the ground out.

He said: “He ran a really nice race at Royal Ascot when he was fourth in the Wolferton Handicap.

“But I’d have to say the easy ground did hinder him that day and if it had been quicker I’d have nearly won, even over that trip (10 furlongs). He got faster ground at Goodwood and he hosed up there. He has a 4lb penalty for that but if the handicapper could have reassessed him he’d have 8lb more so he must have an obvious chance.

“I just hope he can prove he is as good enough.”

Another hoping for drying ground is trainer Michael Jarvis, who is looking to upset hot favourite Peeping Fawn with Silkwood in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York today.

An impressive winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, Silkwood has been off the track since with a virus. But Jarvis said: “She seems fine and is in good order. She wasn’t very well after the Ribbledsale. She had a bit of a virus, a bit of mucus in her throat, so we had to clear that up.

“It was too soft to run her in the Irish Oaks so we’ve had to wait for this race.”

YORK PREDICTIONS (Day Two):

1.30pm Great Hawk

2pm Sir Gerry

2.35pm (totesport Ebor) Honolulu

3.10pm (Yorkshire Oaks) Peeping Fawn

3.45pm CAPTAIN GERRARD (NAP)

4.25pm Glorious Gift

5pm Maker’s Mark