Promising young Victorian based sires Shamus Award and Puissance de Lune (IRE) both have runners in the Victoria Derby on Saturday with good chances in Soul Patch and Southern Moon, the dynamic duo also siring smart winners at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, three year-old colt Heart of Puissance made it two wins from two starts when he scored a half neck win in the Benchmark 64 event over 1600m.
A $40,000 Inglis Premier Book 2 purchase for John Foote Bloodstock Pty Ltd / Darren Weir Racing from the Yarran Thoroughbreds draft, Heart of Puissance is the third winner from four to race from winning Show a Heart mare Catch a Heart, a daughter of stakes-placed Belzain.
Catch a Heart has foaled this spring producing a filly by Puissance de Lune.
A Group II winning son of Shamardal, Puissance de Lune has made an encouraging start to his stud career with five winners from 16 runners highlighted by Group II winner Moonlight Maid and stakes-placed Southern Moon.
Puissance de Lune stands at Swettenham Stud at a fee of $8,800.
Shamus Award already has a Queensland Derby winner on his resume in Mr Quickie and is shooting for another with Soul Patch.
Moved to Rosemont Stud in Victoria this year, Shamus Award is also the sire of three year-old gelding Call Me Shamus, who broke his maiden at Moonee Valley with a tenacious half neck win as favourite over 1600m.
A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for his trainer Phillip Stokes, Call Me Shamus is the first winner for Group II winner Text‘n Hurley, who also has a yearling colt by Shamus Award.
Shamus Award stands at Rosemont at a fee of $11,000.