Melbourne Cup favourite, Puissance De Lune, lost no admirers after his narrow defeat at the hands of the Sydneysider Foreteller, in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington yesterday.

No excuses for the defeat were offered, nor should there have been, he was ridden exactly as he was when winning the Peter Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

The horse looked a picture of fitness when he entered the paddock, his condition couldn’t be faltered, a credit to his trainer Darren Weir.

Glen Boss had him two horses off the fence at the 800 metres marker; he was working into the race nicely as the field reached the top of the straight.

He didn’t ping immediately, he appeared to labour for a few strides, once he regained full momentum again he looked to have the race at his mercy.

Except Boss was not aware that Foreteller, who had trailed him for most of the race, was now casting a prominent shadow, with Craig Newitt riding for dear life and the margin was closing rapidly.

Foreteller defeating Puissance De Lune

Newitt rode a great race; he obviously had a game plan and carried it out to the letter, the winning margin a half head.

Foreteller, a winner of 10 races from 33 starts, increased his stakes earnings to excess of $1.26 million resulting from the win.

It was a red letter day for gelding’s trainer Chris Waller, winning a weight for age two state double as Hawkspur won the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.

The win was a huge thrill for Justine Hailes, the capable Flemington stable manager for Chris Waller.

Foreteller arrived from Sydney on Wednesday with the report that he was flying, obviously that was ignored as he did not move from his opening quote of $15.

Moudre turned in a great run to finish third, he came from 12^th on the home turn and will be greatly improved by the run, he was first up since November, while the run of Ethiopia will do him no harm either, his first appearance since the Doncaster Handicap in the autumn.

It is hard to get any line on Sea Moon after he stumbled out of the starting gate, he merely followed the field.

Foreteller returning to scale