Puissance De Lune To Take Improvement From P.B. Lawrence Stakes

Trainer Darren Weir believes that Puissance De Lune will take plenty of improvement from his first-up run in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Puissance De Lune has the chance to record back-to-back wins in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes this weekend.

Puissance De Lune has the chance to record back-to-back wins in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Puissance De Lune has not been seen at the races since he suffered a tendon injury when he finished 12th in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26, but has impressed with his work in a pair of exhibition gallops and a jump out at Donald last week.

Weir told RSN yesterday that he was happy with the condition of Puissance De Lune heading into the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, but he admits that the Shamardal entire may need a run before he is able to return to his best form.

“We are very pleased with the order of the horse,” Weir said.

“He is very fit and well, but we are mindful that he will benefit a lot from the run being a seven-year-old stallion that hasn’t raced for twelve months.

“You would think that he would improve a lot with racing, but the horse looks extremely well and is very sound.

“Whatever happens on Saturday there are positive signs there.”

Puissance De Lune was included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) that were released last week, but it is the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) that is the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target for the popular grey.

Weir said that he will make a decision on the racing future of Puissance De Lune after he runs in the Makybe Diva Stakes, but he confirmed that the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) was not an option for last year’s long-time favourite.

“It was too risky to get the amount of miles you need to get into them with his tendon issues, so we just chose a different path,” Weir said off a Melbourne Cup campaign for Puissance De Lune.

“The Makybe Diva will be our main goal and we will see what he does in that and what we do after that.

“The Melbourne Cup is definitely off the radar.”

Puissance De Lune is currently available at a quote of $3.20 in the 2014 P.B. Lawrence Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes Australia and is a narrow favourite from Peter Moody-trained Lidari ($5), Caulfield Cup hopeful Star Rolling ($6.50) and Chris Waller-trained Foreteller.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.