Puissance De Lune.
EARLY Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune will return to Terang next week for another important gallop in his build-up to an autumn campaign.
The Darren Weir-trained horse had a special gallop on the track between races during Sunday’s Terang Cup meeting.
Weir’s Warrnambool stable worker Mitch Freedman rode the five-year-old during Sunday’s hit-out.
“All’s good, very happy with him,” Freedman said yesterday.
He said the plan was to work the grey over 1000 metres, quickening at the 600-metre mark before extending him in the last 200 metres.
“It was good to give him a day out at the races,” Freedman said.
“It’s always good for them to have a day out at the races to get them back into it.”
Freedman said the imported Irish galloper was being aimed at the group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) on March 9 at Flemington.
“He may have that and then go out (into the paddock) again or he may go on to the Easter Cup. Spring is his ultimate goal.”
He said the softer Terang surface suited the galloper at this stage of his preparation.
Trials that were scheduled for Terang this week were cancelled after this Sunday’s Hamilton meeting was transferred to the course.
Depending on how the track stands up to Sunday, Puissance De Lune will return to the course next Monday or Tuesday.
Puissance De Lune went from racing obscurity to star status in four weeks last spring.
He was narrowly beaten in a benchmark 89 handicap at Warrnambool in October but 13 days later bolted away with the $153,500 Bendigo Cup (2400m).
Then on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington he demolished a class field to win the $251,000 group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).
After that victory, Weir credited Freedman and the Warrnambool beach with making a big difference in the horse.