PB Lawrence Stakes preview

Puissance De Lune will make his return to racing after a 10-month spell where the stallion underwent surgery to fix a tendon injury.

He won this race last year and the field this year is an absolute cracker with plenty of these horses set to feature in the spring after this Group 2 event over 1400 metres.

Puissance De Lune looks to be the stand out in the field but there are plenty of questions to be asked of him after his lay off from last spring. Forget his last run which was a 14th placing in the Cox Plate, the horse won this race fresh off a big performance late that saw him get up over Ajeeb and Second Effort.

We don’t have any trials to go off which for mine is troubling but it’s already been declared that a Group 1 victory is the target this spring with the Group 1 Maykbe Diva (1600m) the go as trainer Darren Weir has already said. I expect him to go forward in this and will give us a good show based on his first up form.

Lidari resumes for trainer Peter Moody off an 18-week spell. Finishing seventh in the Futurity Stakes first up last prep and finishing (4.8) lengths behind Moment of Change was the only time in his first five fresh runs that he has missed a place, it is worth considering it was a Group 1 and a WFA race so I’m prepared to forgive.

This race will prove easier I expect him to sit back from his wide draw and work into the race late.

The speed in the race could come from Zamorar who did well first up two starts back to run down Fab Fevola at Flemington. Finished third last start in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star he fell back and just couldn’t reel in Tiger Tees at the end finishing (1.2) lengths behind.

Has placed in this race before in 2012 when he produced similar effort in the Aurie’s Star, could run a sneaky race in this up front, and if the track is cut out it will help him for sure he will feature in the finish.

Star Rolling is lightly raced and resumes after a light autumn campaign which held just four runs, but he placed in two of those races. One was an impressive third by a long neck to Fiorente in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m).

Connections have been patient with this galloper and has shown talent which suggests he could challenge in this one.

Gig is ultra-consistent and ran another place in Group Company with a third to Thaimandi in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) three weeks ago. That effort was impressive when you consider when she dropped back from a mile of the listed Winter Championships just a fortnight prior.

Will benefit from the extra 200m and has finished second five times from six starts, can find a place but needs to find some extra in this one.

Spillway is a former import who in his third start won with a strong performance in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick last April. Leaves his best efforts for over the 1600m journey but a forward showing here would not surprise at all.

The evergreen Foreteller continues another campaign for trainer Chris Waller. Has had the benefit of two barrier trials over the past three weeks, finished outside the placings in his last two fresh runs in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes and Group 2 Warwick Stakes.

Will have to make the ground up late and Waller will just be looking for his runner to get something out of the hit-out, I don’t have him in my placings.

Let’s Make Adeal and Brambles are on the next line of the market at good odds but both look to be either out of their class (Brambles) or not suited to the distance (Let’s Make Adeal).

The field is rounded out by Excluded and Kincaple who I just simply can’t have.

Race prediction
I think Zamorar will go to the front and take the lead, could get a nice time of it considering most are returning from a spell and like longer trips. Puissance De Lune is the key in this race if he doesn’t let the leaders get out of site which Rawiller won’t then he should be a good show.

He is expected to race in shorter races this preparation and if he could win last year with the Melbourne Cup as the goal this will suit him much more. If Star Roller and Lidari can get into good positions they can swoop after the turn the only problem for Lidari may be the tempo but he is more than capable.

Selections
1. Puissance De Lune 2. Lidari 3. Zamorar 4. Gig

Vain Stakes
Mick Price has a good chance to take home this race with three runners in this three-year-olds event being highly fancied. There will be plenty of speed engaged in this race which will allow some back markers to give a showing in the straight.

Jabali will feature heavily and should sit in a nice spot, Nordic Empire is placed well here and defeated seven runners in this race last start. Stingray is the real value in the race and only has to have some luck in this one to feature in the finish.

Selections
1. Jabali 2. Stingray 3. Nordic Empire 4. Boomwa