2013 Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune will begin his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17.
Puissance De Lune will begin his Melbourne Cup campaign in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Trainer Darren Weir told TVN that he had consulted with leading form analyst Deane Lester who believes that the Lawrence Stakes is the ideal starting point for what will be a lengthy campaign.
The Ballarat-based trainer said Puissance De Lune’s full spring agenda will be decided next week, after discussions with Melbourne Cup winning owner Gerry Ryan, and said the son of Shamardal was in excellent condition.
“He’s bigger and stronger, he’s still pretty gross but he’s in great order,” Weir told TVN.
Puissance De Lune has not appeared at the races since his brief 2013 Autumn Racing Carnival campaign where he dead-heated with Budriguez in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The imported stayer pulled up with heat in a fetlock after the race and x-rays revealed that the rising six-year-old required minor surgery to remove bone chips from the injured fetlock.
Weir told News Limited earlier in the year his star galloper had not taken any harm from the operation and believes it did not affect Puissance De Lune’s Melbourne Cup preparation, as he was only ever going to have a single start in the autumn.
Puissance De Lune stormed into Melbourne Cup favoritism with a couple of impressive performances during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival.
He romped home to record an eight length demolition in the Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) before defeating a strong field, which included Sandown Cup winner Tanby, Godolphin stayer Lost In The Moment and Herbert Power Stakes winner Shahwardi, by five lengths in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.
Weir previously went closest to winning the Melbourne Cup (3200m) in 2003 when She’s Archie finished second behind champion mare Makybe Diva.
