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Puissance De Lune has showcased his class with an encouraging first up win in the Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Darren Weir-trained grey was resuming after a breakout 2012/13 season where he became a multiple stakes winning galloper.
Being aimed towards some of the key spring features, Puissance De Lune was not fully wound up for his first up assignment yet still went into the P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) as favourite.
With regular jockey Glen Boss in the saddle, Puissance De Lune was eased back to last as Ajeeb set a solid tempo.
Puissance De Lune still had plenty of ground to make up from the 600m but once clear in the straight made winning the P.B Lawrence Stakes look pretty easy.
A three-quarter length win ensued auguring well for the French imports chances a big race success this spring.
Ajeeb recorded a game second while race fitness gave Second Effort the edge required to finish third.
The spotlight belonged to Puissance De Lune though who was awarded a Timeform figure of 117+ for the display.
Six pounds shy of his master Timeform rating achieved when taking out the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Puissance De Lune’s latest victory sits below the current five year winning average of the P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m).
Won by Second Effort in 2012, the strength of the P.B Lawrence Stakes does appear to be on the decline from year to year.
Formerly the J.J Liston Stakes, prior to 2010, the event boasted some impressive winners such as Whobegotyou [120, 2011], Shoot Out [124, 2010], Predatory Pricer [124, 2009], Light Fantastic [125, 2008] and Apache Cat [125, 2007].
With the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at the track a fortnight later now a Group 1, trainers may begin to put greater emphasis on that contest which could contribute to the P.B Lawrence losing some depth over the course of upcoming renewals.
While the Memsie Stakes appears to be a natural progression for Puissance De Lune, connections are also considering the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) a week later at Flemington or the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 14.
The Memsie Stakes is shaping as a strong renewal with Atlantic Jewel, Green Moon, It’s A Dundeel, Happy Trails and Fiorente just some of the spring stars expected to contest the event.
Puissance De Lune will no doubt be competitive at his next start regardless of where it is.
The Shamardal entire has shown his versatility over the past 12 months with victories over trips ranging from 1400m to 2600m.
He is a tractable customer as well having won after being positioned up on the speed and as evidence last Saturday, charging home from the tail.