The form surrounding the penultimate race in the European career of this year’s early Melbourne Cup favourite promises to have a more modest impact at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
One of an ever increasing number of overseas horses paying their way in Australian racing, Award Season is considered one of the main chances in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (2400m).
The former French stayer makes his way to town for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees via a restricted country-class win.
But part-owner Jamie Lovett says any doubt about the merit of an easy Muswellbrook victory should be erased on closer examination of the horse’s European credentials.
“I’ve had to point out to a few people that Award Season was only beaten a length by Puissance De Lune when they met in France,” Lovett, a director of Australian Bloodstock, told AAP.
“We had to give him a kilo-and-a-half that day but obviously Puissance De Lune has trained on in Australia and taken huge strides.”
Because of his obvious potential, Puissance De Lune became the spruik horse of the Melbourne spring carnival after winning the Bendigo Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
So much so, he was made favourite for the 2013 Melbourne Cup and is expected to remain so at least until he steps out in the spring after what will be an abbreviated autumn campaign.
In a week when Australian Bloodstock has retired the 2011 Melbourne Cup placegetter Lucas Cranach because of injury, expectations for Award Season have been kept in check because Lovett insists the next six to 12 months will be the making of the stayer.
“We purchased him at the lower end of the scale, hoping he might be a Saturday-class horse at best,” Lovett said.
“Actually his form is really strong. He also raced a horse called Reliable Man early on and he turned out to be a Group One winner in Europe.”
Award Season’s class one Muswellbrook win where he ran nine lengths faster over the 1750m distance than the benchmark 70 winner, co-incided with an improvement in the horse’s physicial condition.
“It’s only been in the last six weeks that his coat has come good,” Lovett said.
“I know people will say he only won at Muswellbrook but he was three-wide and at a staying distance it’s not such a step up (to city class).”
