Glen Boss will retain the Melbourne Cup ride on Puissance De Lune even if his replacement wins the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Puissance De Lune will have a new rider in the Cox Plate. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Owner Gerry Ryan and trainer Darren Weir will name a stand-in rider for Puissance De Lune for Saturday after Boss was suspended for twelve meetings for causing interference approaching the winning post the first time in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) last Saturday which resulted in Glencadam Gold having to be severely checked.
But Ryan said that Boss would be back in the saddle for the Group 1 $6.2m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
“Glen has been with us all the way through and this is most unfortunate. However, I can’t see anyway, win or whatever in the Cox Plate, that he won’t ride Puissance De Lune in the Melbourne Cup,” Ryan told the Herald Sun.
“It is really unfortunate for Glen. We were all primed for the Cox Plate, everything going perfectly to plan. But that’s racing. We still have a horse who is sound and fit and ready to go.”
“He told me the work was outstanding and the horse was cherry ripe and how much he was looking forward to the ride.”
Ryan will discuss the jockey situation with Weir and the pair are likely to announce the new rider today with Luke Nolen, Brad Rawiller and Ben Melham all getting a mention.
“I’ve had a lot of messages from jockeys saying they would be pleased to ride him in the Cox Plate,” Ryan said.
Puissance De Lune has had a solid grounding for Saturday’s weight for age championship of Australasia with a win and two seconds from four starts this preparation.
Puissance De Lune kicked off his Spring Carnival campaign with a first up win in the Group 2 $220,000 Back To Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17 followed by a narrow second to Foreteller in the Group 1 $350,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 7.
The imported grey was then unplaced when seventh to It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21 but then bounced back to be collard on the line by Happy Trails when second in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5.
The Cox Plate market order has Puissance De Lune marked as a $7.50 chance with Atlantic Jewel the favourite at $2.30 while the Gai Waterhouse trained import Fiorente and Kiwi star It’s A Dundeel share the second line of betting at $5.
