Leading jockey Glen Boss has revealed he is not fazed that Puissance De Lune will jump from the outsider barrier in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Glen Boss is confident that Puissance De Lune can step up again in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Boss admitted that Puissance De Lune may find it tough to beat glamour mare Atlantic Jewel this weekend but believes that the wide barrier draw will not be a problem and could even be an advantage for the 2013 Melbourne Cup favourite.
“I very rarely concern myself with barrier draws to be honest – I’m not fazed one way or the other,” Boss told Sky Racing HQ.
“These races as the last race of the day sometimes mean that it can be very advantageous that you have drawn out there, as the track can get chopped up on the inside.”
Boss suffered his first loss on Puissance De Lune in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, just under a fortnight ago, and trainer Darren Weir was critical of his ride on the five-year-old.
The Melbourne Cup winning jockey acknowledged that he made a few mistakes during the race but declared that he would not make the same errors again.
“I am my hardest taskmaster,” Boss said.
“I exposed him a looking bit early the other day; it was just unfortunate that I was following horses that were not going to take me into the race.
“That won’t be happening again, I never do things twice.”
Puissance De Lune was making his Group 1 debut in the Makybe Diva Stakes and we will be facing a step-up in quality again when he faces the likes of Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood Stakes.
Boss believes that Shamardal entire still has plenty of improvement left in him but said this will likely be the run that brings the popular grey close to peak fitness for his tilts at the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“You are in the big leagues now, this is as good a race that we have seen at this stage of the spring that I can ever remember,” Boss said.
“It is not going to be easy but if you asked me right now which horse you would like to be riding he would be my answer right away.
“I really enjoy riding this horse and if he can keep it all together he is going to be a horse that makes a big noise throughout the spring.
“He has had a couple more weeks to tune up and I am sure that Weiry (Darren Weir) is starting to get a bit more serious with him now.
“I imagine this run is the one that starts to bring him on because from this run on he has to be very serious.”
Puissance De Lune has the chance to become the first horse since Dr Grace in 1991 to win the P.B. Lawrence Stakes/ Underwood Stakes double.
