The tease of Spring and the return of star grey Puissance De Lune add plenty of intrigue to today’s $200,000 Group II P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m). Join The Roar from 4:15pm (AEST) for a preview, live blog and review post race.
The P.B. Lawrence Stakes, formerly the J J Liston Stakes, was usually one of the key kick off points for many good horses during the Spring, but with prizemoney increases and status upgrades to other races, this race has fallen away a touch in terms of quality and is now saved for the odd good horse eg Puissance De Lune, and the Winter sprinters who are rock hard fit.
Below is a runner by Runner preview of today’s race:
Foreteller – 8YO Gelding
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 7
Form: Foreteller resumes here for Chris Waller after a tough Autumn campaign, where there was no victories, but he was very competitive against the best of the best. The highlight was a narrow third to Fiorente and Green Moon in a thrilling edition of the Australian Cup. He probably had enough after that, so I’ll forgive him for his two failures behind Silent Achiever. Liked the way he has trialled back home in Sydney, loves Caulfield and can run really well fresh.
Puissance De Lune – 7YO Horse
Trainer: Darren Weir
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 4
Form: All eyes will be on this superstar grey, Puissance De Lune. Yes, he may have tapered off badly towards the end of the Spring last year, but as we saw with his ridiculously easy win in this race 12 months ago, he can make good horses look very ordinary. His trials have been very slick from all reports, and the fact he is being kept to a mile this Spring tells me that Darren Weir will have trained the zip back in his legs, and we know how good that zip is when right. It’ll be a great training effort if the horse is to win fresh, but Darren Weir has produced some amazing training feats in recent times.
Brambles – 6YO Gelding
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Luke Nolen
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 9
Form: 2012 Queensland Derby winner who has had many issues and only returned from that Group l win back in early May over this track/distance, and was quite good I thought in running fourth, then was just as good late behind Limes at Flemington before failing at the Valley. Won a recent jumpout at Caulfield, beating home stablemate Lidari. He is a good horse when right, but hard to have him here first up.
Kincaple – 9YO Gelding
Trainer: Mark Webb
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 8
Form: Back in Victoria after formerly racing in Perth where he was quite competitive at Group level without winning. Well held in a barrier trial at Cranbourne last week by an open handicap horse at best in Good Value, and given he is nine year olds, better suited over further…deserved price of $101.
Lidari – 6YO Horse
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Ben Melham
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 10
Form: Top winner of the Blamey back in the Autumn before coming to Sydney and failing twice at Group l level. He finished third in that jumpout won by Brambles, and didn’t show as much early speed as Brambles, so if I don’t rate his chances, I can’t rate the chances of Lidari any higher. Happy to watch.
Zamorar – 6YO Gelding
Trainer: David Bourne
Jockey: Katelyn Mallyon (a)
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 1
Form: Trialled brilliantly prior to his strong first up win down the Flemington straight before running a brave third last week in the Aurie’s Star behind Group l winner Tiger Tees. He loomed to win that race, but just petered late. He did run second in this race two years ago on a very heavy track, but I’m split on him as to whether he should be kept to the sprints under 1200m or try him out again as a 1400m galloper. Barrier one will ensure he gets every chance to run it out.
Excluded – 7YO Gelding
Trainer: Byron Cozamanis
Jockey: Steve Arnold
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 6
Form: Former Lloyd Williams stayer who has been away from the racing game for 12 months and is now with Byron Cozamanis. He was a quality stayer a couple of years back and was touted as a possible Melbourne Cup contender, but injury has put those dreams away. Had a jumpout on July 29 at Caulfield and didn’t really do much, but the winner was multiple Group l winner Moment Of Change. Still, I’ll just watch him go around here.
Star Rolling – 5YO Gelding
Trainer: Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison
Jockey: Steve Baster
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 11
Form: Very good horse, but the screws in his head simply will never be tightened I feel. Promised so much during the Spring of last year and the Autumn this year, but all he has produced is a stakes win at Morphettville. Recent trial at Cranbourne was sharp and really hit the line with purpose under a good hold. Generally needs the fresh run under his belt, but his ability is too good to completely dismiss.
Spillway – 5YO Horse
Trainer: David Hayes & Tom Dabernig
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Weight: 59kg
Barrier: 5
Form: I’m very keen to see how Spillway returns here. He was highly talked up when coming here for David Hayes and really caught the eye at his Australian debut with a closing seventh in the Bendigo Golden Mile, beaten just over two lengths, then raced quite flat in the Neville Sellwood behind Junoob before appreciating a fast tempo in the JRA Plate at Randwick and streeting clear of his rivals. Best is over further, but look for him to find the line as he heads towards the Caulfield Cup.
Gig – 6YO Mare
Trainer: Shawn Mathrick
Jockey: Vlad Duric
Weight: 57kg
Barrier: 3
Form: Gallant mare who loves bobbing up in the money somewhere. Go back three runs and she was fantastic I thought in the Group l Tatt’s Tiara behind star mare Cosmic Endeavour, then ran a cracking third to Akavoroun in the Winter Championship final before a slashing second in the Bletchingly to Thiamandi. Back up to 1400m is ideal, loves racing here and draws well. She’s the knockout chance.
Let’s Make A Deal – 5YO Mare
Trainer: Nigel Blackiston
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Weight: 57kg
Barrier: 2
Form: Talented staying mare who resumes here after just a fair Autumn prep. She found the line with the purpose in most of her runs, but couldn’t crack it for a win. Recent Flemington jumpout was pleasing, but she’ll be better suited with fitness and when the distances increase. She’ll wind up late.
Tips:
I’m pretty keen here on Puissance De Lune. From what I’ve seen in exhibition gallops and his trial win at Donald, he looks more than fit enough to win first up. Given his main target is the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), the sprint will be in his legs, and he gets conditions to suit.
Foreteller is the proven WFA performer who doesn’t know how to run a shocker, and I have been impressed by the way he has trialled back in Sydney. Expecting him to run a beauty fresh.
For a roughie, chuck Spillway in exotics. We saw what he was capable of during the Sydney Carnival and his recent jumpout at Flemington was more than satisfactory.
Also include Gig, who is rock hard fit and has a great overall record at the Caulfield 1400m.
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