Trainer Darren Weir will follow the same program as last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and send Puissance De Lune to the paddock after only one Autumn start.
Grey import Puissance De Lune dead heating with Budriguez in the Blamey Stakes. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Pusssiance De Lune was having his first run last Saturday since a spectacular 5 lengths win in the Group 3 $250,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.
The Melbourne Cup favourite produced an outstanding effort to dead heat with Budriguez in the Group 2 $220,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m), the same race that Green Moon won before preparing for the Spring.
Weir was uncertain if Puissance De Lune would have one or two Autumn starts but after talking to syndicate head Gerry Ryan following the Blamey Stakes, it was decided to send the grey import for a spell before preparing him for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.
“We’ll put him in the paddock and bring him back in the Spring,” Weir said.
Top jockey Glen Boss was just as excited after the Blamey Stakes dead heat as he was when Puissance De Lune won the Queen Elizabeth and can’t wait to see the Shamardal stallion in the Spring.
“He’s come back looking identical as what he left. His weight is the same, he’s an athletic colt,” Boss said after the Blamey Stakes.
“He just backed up what I thought he could do. He wasn’t expected to do that first up.”
“That’s the least of his distance the he will be competitive in, wait until he gets over a trip.”
Puissance De Lune didn’t do his Melbourne Cup chances any harm and has maintained his spot at the top of the Cup markets at $11 ahead of European stayer Sea Moon at $12 with last year’s runner-up Fiorante and Mount Athos at $17.
Last year’s winner Green Moon is at the early quote of $21.
