G2 victory for Shamardal five-year-old

Racing first up since his victory in the G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the end of the Melbourne Spring carnival, Shamardal five-year-old Puissance De Lune produced a gutsy effort to dead-heat in the G2 Blamey Stakes over a mile.

Being held up when trying to make his run, the Darren Weir-trained runner arguably should have taken victory, but the record will now stand that it was a dead heat. Considered one of the leading chances now for November’s G1 Melbourne Cup, Puissance De Lune is likely to only have one or two more starts this time in before being prepared for tilt at the Cups in the Spring.

Puissance De Lune started his career as part of the Damien de Watrigant stable in France before Australian bloodstock agent Robert Roulston paid 90,000 euros for him on behalf current owner Gerry Ryan for the five-year-old at the 2011 Arqana Arc Sale.

Puissance De Lune’s dam Princess Serena won over a mile during her racing days while her son is now very much a Melbourne Cup contender.

Having sired 47 Stakes winners to date, headed by eight G1 winners including Lope De Vega, Faint Perfume, Zazou, Sagawara and Captain Sonador, Shamardal is standing the current season at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for 50,000 euro.