Lightly raced import Puissance De Lune, unbeaten in two starts in Australia, will be aimed at the Bendigo Cup in the spring following his impressive win at Sandown.
Prepared by Darren Weir, Puissance De Lune was sent out the $2.10 favourite in Wednesday’s Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1800m) and raced wide throughout for Brad Rawiller before careering away to a 3-1/4 length win over A Shade Better ($51).
Ladramahs ($9) was 4-1/2 lengths back third.
Owned by Gerry Ryan, who also races 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, Puissance De Lune won one of his three starts in France over 1900m at Bordeaux before coming to Australia where he won first-up over 1700m at Warrnambool on May 3.
He jumped from barrier eight in the field of 12 but Weir said he was never concerned by the awkward draw.
“Drawn out for me wasn’t a concern as I reckon he’s a better horse going around them,” Weir said.
“When the track dried out (from a slow 6 to a dead 5) I rang Gerry and he said he’d bought him hopefully to run in a Bendigo Cup and it might be dry that day so why don’t you find out today (if he handles it).
“That’s why we ran him.
“He’s obviously an improving horse and he can stay.
“I reckon the Bendigo Cup would be a nice race to head him towards.
“He’s a really good doing horse, he cops a lot of work.
“He’s just a very, very noisy horse around the stable, that’s all.”
Puissance De Lune’s supporters had some anxious moments before the start of the race when he dumped Rawiller behind the gates.
“He dropped me and I twisted my leg,” Rawiller said.
“It took me a bit to get my leg moving again but I was never going to not ride him because his win at Warrnambool was super impressive and today he was just in a class of his own.”
Weir made it a running double with Puissance De Lune after taking the quinella with Royal Bender ($5 equal fav), ridden by Nick Hall, and Shiny And New in the previous race, the Sportingbet Hcp (1000m).
