PUISSANCE DE LUNE, who thrilled racegoers back in the 2012-13 season with some startling performances, has been retired.

His Bendigo Cup win, followed by an all the way win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, bookmakers immediately installed him as Melbourne Cup favourite, with the Cup still many months away.

We have been told he will go to stud, which stud we don’t know, there are not that many studs in Victoria with a reasonable compliment of mares to give a sire the chance he deserves.

A strong commercial stud would be ideal, the first three seasons are so essential, it is a fickle industry, excuses for failure are seldom accepted.

Puissance De Lune would be best described as a genuine middle distance performer, he just missed out on a Group 1, but never the less, he proved an exciting racehorse.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED with Lucky Liberty, he will continue on towards the Australian Guineas after Saturday’s fiasco when the saddle slipped during the Colin Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

It didn’t take long to realise the gelding was in trouble, after leaving the starting gate, when he began bucking and was completing out of the race within a few strides.

The saddle had slipped backwards towards the flank which caused the bucking and giving Michelle Payne a most uncomfortable ride.

Overall it was a disappointing affair; the race would have topped the gelding right off for the Guineas.

BBA (UK) announced this week a statement concerning the enhanced anti doping rules,   including a zero tolerance stance against the use of anabolic steroids that will be implemented as of March 2.

The objective of the new policy was drawn up in the wake of Mahmood Al Zarooni’s eight years ban and Gerard Butler’s five years disqualification for administering banned substances containing anabolic steroids to horses in their care.

CHRIS MUNCE was back in the news at Ipswich yesterday training his first winner, Specfic Choice, to win the Optus Business Centre Handicap.

Munce, who had ridden regularly for Gai Waterhouse with much success, has made the transition from jockey to trainer with few problems, he currently has a stable of 12 horses in work and is building up a strong clientele.

RACING VICTORIA veterinarians commenced pre race inspections today on the 15 runners engaged in Saturdays Blue Diamond Stakes.

The compulsory inspections this afternoon and will continue again tomorrow to ensure the well being of every horse in the race.

This procedure was in force last season showing excellent results that horses are fully fit and healthy for the task ahead of them facing the $1 million purse.