Early Melbourne Cup favorite Puissance de Lune takes his next step toward the
A$6-million race in Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva over the metric mile at
Flemington.
The six-year-old, who concluded last season with three straight victories,
picked up right where he left off August 17, going last-to-first to win
Caulfield’s P.B. Lawrence in style. The gray, whom jockey Glen Boss has declared
as good as three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva and dual Cox Plate scorer
So You Think, is three-for-three second up.
Taking on the favorite will be a trio of newcomers from Europe, headed by the
ever-reliable Sea Moon. Off the board just twice in 10 outings, the former Sir
Michael Stoute charge has tangled with the best in Europe at both middle and
long distances. Second to St. Nicholas Abbey in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf, Sea
Moon bested recent American St. Leger winner Dandino in last year’s Tapster at
Goodwood, followed by a defeat of 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden in Royal
Ascot’s Hardwicke. Sea Moon has not been seen since finishing eighth in a very
boggy Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October, and thus faces a lengthy layoff in
his first outing for trainer Robert Hickmott.
Waldpark, the 2011 German Derby winner, is an intriguing contender.
Previously trained by Andreas Wohler, the five-year-old most recently finished
second, beaten a head, to Arc favorite Novellist in the Grosser Preis Der
Badischen Unternehmer May 12. New trainer Anthony Freedman, who has had his
share of experience with both top stayers and German imports, has had Waldpark
in his yard for about 10 weeks.
“He’s made good, solid improvement throughout his preparation,” Freedman told
racingandsports.com.au. “He’ll probably find the mile a little sharp on
Saturday, but as long as I see him finishing the race off strongly or doing a
bit towards the end, I’ll be happy enough.”
Rounding out the new imports contingent is 2011 St. Leger winner Masked
Marvel. Last year’s crack middle distance performer Manighar, winner of three
straight Group 1 races in his prime, looks like to get back on track and break a
10-race losing streak.
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