Darren Weir’s giant grey Puissance De Lune remains at the top of the Melbourne Cup markets even after being nosed out by Foreteller in the Group 1 $350,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Foreteller (green and yellow) grabs Puisaance De Lune on the line in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Puissance De Lune suffered his first defeat from his last five starts when he couldn’t hold out the Chris Waller trained Foreteller in the shadows of the post.

The grey import  has eased slightly but is still the $7 top pick for the Group 1 $6.2m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5 ahead of $10 chance Sea Moon whose Spring campaign is up in the air after suffering a minor injury when he slipped at the start of  the Makybe Diva Stakes.

While in Cox Plate markets Puissance De Lune is still well and truly in the mix on the third line of betting at $9 behind super mare Atlantic Jewel and New Zealand galloper It’s A Dundeel at $8.50.

Even though Weir was disappointed that Puissance De Lune failed to win at his first attempt at Group 1 company, he feels that the Gerry Ryan owned six year old is still on target for the rest of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

“We knew this was a huge step-up and you’d have to say he responded,” Weir told the Herald Sun.

“Glen Boss said he was dead on his feet in the last 100m but he still nearly got there.”

“He has come a really long way in a year and this was not his grand final.

“He needs more racing with the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in mind so there was no point peaking in this race.”

Weir has pencilled in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21 for Puissance De Lune’s next start and a rematch with Foreteller is highly likely.