Darren Weir will watch the Memsie Stakes with interest as an array of potential spring stars step out in the first Group One race of the new season.
Weir is the trainer of Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate favourite Puissance De Lune and while the impressive grey galloper won’t be in action in the Group One Memsie, a lot of his main spring rivals will be.
They include Atlantic Jewel, It’s A Dundeel, Super Cool, Fiorente, and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon.
“It will be interesting,” Weir said.
Puissance De Lune has already sounded a spring warning with a last-to-first win in the Group Two Peter Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield first-up.
The win tightened the import’s grip on Melbourne Cup favouritism and he was elevated above Atlantic Jewel, Super Cool and It’s A Dundeel to the top of Cox Plate betting.
Rather than feeling pressure, Weir says he’s excited to have a potential spring star in his care.
“I reckon it’s great. It’s great to have a nice horse in the stable,” Weir said.
“We’ve had plenty of mediocre horses so it’s just good to have one a bit better than them.”
Puissance De Lune is likely to have his next start in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week, his first opportunity to chase a Group One.
The Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes are also on the radar before the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
“That’s one program, but I’ve got to talk to (owner) Gerry Ryan,” Weir said.
“Gerry normally says ‘do what you think’.
“He’s terrific to train for.”
Weir said Puissance De Lune had continued to please since his first-up win.
“He’s great,” Weir said.
“Everything is where it needs to be.”
