“This will be her last hoorah”

ARGUABLY the most improved member of her crop, Purple Moon has a prime opportunity to end her season on a high note.

In what will be “her last hoorah”, Purple Moon is engaged in tonight’s New South Wales Trot Final at Club Menangle.

A midfield runner at the beginning of the season, the Mark Lefoe-trained three-year-old has “come along in leaps and bounds during the last month or so”.

Along with breaking her maiden at Club Menangle a fortnight ago, Purple Moon was runner-up behind rising star Superior Stride in the Foundation Final during her previous outing.

The beaten brigade on that occasion includes three of her six rivals in the $50,000 feature.

“There is no doubt she come along in leaps and bounds during the last month or so,” Lefoe said. “She has gotten better and better as the year has progressed.

“Her track work has become stronger, more professional, and she is showing that at the track.

“I’m not saying she’s a certainty tonight, in fact, I’ll be happy if she finishes in the first three, but she has beaten them before, and if you can do something once, you can’t do it again.”

To be driven by Taylah Osmond, Purple Moon has drawn to settle in a forward position from barrier three, with TAB Fixed Odds listing the daughter of Muscle M Up on the fourth line of betting at $6.

Enigmatic trotter Gladiatrix is a $1.55 favourite from gate six, with Brother Mountain and Cee Cee In Paris at $4.40 from barriers four and five.

“She has drawn inside the main few which is a plus early,” Lefoe said. “She’ll hold her own at the start…it’ll just depend on how hard the others want to go.

“This will be her last hoorah as she’ll go for a spell after this.”