Trainer Darren Weir has confirmed that Puissance De Lune will not run in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) or Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Puissance De Lune was narrowly beaten by Foreteller in the 2013 edition of the Makybe Diva Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Puissance De Lune was a clear favourite for the 2013 Melbourne Cup throughout his spring campaign last year, but he was ruled out of ‘the race that stops a nation’ after he suffered a tendon injury during the running of the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and has not been seen at the races since.
Weir told Racing Ahead that connections had completely ruled out another Melbourne Cup campaign for Puissance De Lune and he confirmed that the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) would be the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target for the Shamardal entire.
“It is a little bit up in the air at the moment, but the Makybe Diva is the race we have earmarked and that will be third-up from a spell,” Weir said.
“It is a race that he ran well in last year and we are sort of heading towards that, but we have have ruled out the Cups.
“It is just too hard for the horse with his leg problems, so we will just be keeping him to the shorter route trips.”
Puissance De Lune took part in his second exhibition gallop at Warracknabeal earlier this week and Weir believes that he is working well towards his return to racing for his spring campaign.
Weir said that Puissance De Lune will take part in a barrier trial at some point next week and at this stage will be given the opportunity to defend his title in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16.
“He is good,” Weir said.
“He has had two gallops at Warracknabeal.
“He went up there on Tuesday and he had a good strong half mile gallop.
“Everything is going how it needs to be at this stage and at some stage late next week he will have a 1000 metre barrier trial somewhere and we will be getting pretty close to kicking him off.”
Puissance De Lune came from the tail of the field to win last year’s P.B. Lawrence Stakes in impressive fashion, but was narrowly denied a maiden victory at Group 1 level by Foreteller in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
