Pether’s Moon can take advantage of Glorious opportunity

Pether’s Moon can exploit a drop in class to get back to winning ways in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood today (1.55).

The Richard Hannon trained colt was a progressive sort last season, winning a handicap over course and distance before going on to land a Listed contest at Kempton by 3 3/4 lengths.

The son of Dylan Thomas took another step forward on seasonal reappearance when chasing home Gospel Choir in a Group 2 contest at Newmarket, and has run really well to finish placed in similar grade affairs on his last two starts.

In the first of those, Pether’s Moon ran a cracker to finish third to Telescope in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot where he only lost second in the dying strides.

The winner has gone on to finish runner-up to Taghrooda in the Group 1 King George, and that makes the form look very strong in the context of this contest.

Pether’s Moon was then beaten just 3/4 of a length into third behind Cavalryman in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, and the winner landed yesterday’s Goodwood Cup at this venue.

The drop down into Group 3 company now offers Pether’s Moon a great chance to get back to winning ways, and it will be disappointing if the four-year-old does not take it.

The most interesting opponent for Pether’s Moon is undoubtedly the Godolphin owned Encke.

The Charlie Appleby trained colt was a very smart three-year-old, winning a handicap at Sandown before going on to beat Camelot by 3/4 of a length in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster on his final start of 2011.

The son of Kingmambo has not been seen since, and to overcome a 685 days absence if he is to make a winning comeback.

That is a big ask in what is a decent Group 3 contest, but the form of Encke’s St Leger win sets the standard and entitles the five-year-old to the utmost respect.