Darren Weir is yet to work out the exact path that Puissance De Lune will follow during the 2015 Melbourne Festival Of Racing, but he is happy with the progress that the talented grey is making ahead of his return to racing.
Darren Weir hopes that Puissance De Lune can return to winning form during the 2015 Melbourne Fesitval Of Racing. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Puissance De Lune suffered a serious tendon injury when he finished 12th behind Shamus Award in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and there were concerns that his racing career was over, but was able to recover from the injury and return to racing during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
The Shamardal entire produced a relatively flat effort when sixth in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16, but he returned to his best form with third place finishes in both the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on August 30 and the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13 before he was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished fourth behind Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 4.
Weir told Racing Ahead that he does not have any firm plans in place for Puissance De Lune during his autumn campaign, but he is hopeful that the seven-year-old is past the worst of his injury concerns and can return to winning form if he finds suitable track conditions.
“Everything is ticking along well,” Weir said.
“He has been back in for a bit over a month and he will start heading to the sand dunes next week.
“Everything is on track.
“We have a few plans in the back of our minds, but we have to talk to Gerry and see which way we head with him.
“Hopefully that will continue.
“It is obviously a shame that he has been a bit injury-plagued and he hasn’t quiet been able to show what he is really made of.
“Hopefully he can get a bit of give in the tracks later in his preparation this time and hopefully we can win a nice race with him.”
Puissance De Lune stamped himself as one of the most exciting stayers in Australia when he won the Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) and Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) by a combined total of 13 lengths during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival and he was the early favourite for both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, but he was unable to record a win at the highest level of racing and missed the Melbourne Cup after injuring his tendon in the Cox Plate.
