Trainer Darren Weir has confirmed that Puissance De Lune will return to the races in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Saturday after performing strongly in a jump out at Donald this morning.
Puissance De Lune will have the chance to record back-to-back wins in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield next Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Puissance De Lune has not been seen at the races since he suffered a tendon injury during the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26, but has performed well in a number of exhibition gallops at Warracknabeal and showed Weir that he was ready for a return to racing with another impressive effort at Donald.
The Shamardal entire competed in a jump out over 1000 metres alongside stablemates Five All, Trust In A Gust and Mobaco and the leading Victorian trainer confirmed that it was all systems go for the popular grey in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.
“They all trialled really well,” Weir told TVN.
“Puissance De Lune will kick off now on Saturday week in the P. B. Lawrence before he goes to the Memsie then the Makybe Diva, which is his main aim this spring.
“He’s ready to go now.
“He’ll just have a quiet gallop at Warrnambool on Tuesday and a few trips to the sand dunes before he runs.
“We haven’t had an issue with his leg right from the start.
“Unless he pulls up poorly after today’s trial I’ve got to say everything has gone to plan from the first day back.”
Weir is desperate to win a Group 1 win with Puissance De Lune during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and the six-year-old is set to be very forward for his tilts at both the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30 and the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13.
Puissance De Lune started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with an impressive win in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and he was well-backed in the lead-up to the Makybe Diva Stakes, but he was narrowly denied a maiden Group 1 victory by Foreteller.
After running home well in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), Puissance De Lune looked to be on the verge of success in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), but he failed to let down on the firm Flemington surface and he was caught in the shadows of the post by Happy Trails.
Puissance De Lune was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) that were released earlier this week and he is currently rated a $21 chance in the 2014 Cox Plate betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.
