Foreteller over the moon

Foreteller beats Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune in the G1 Makybe Diva

Foreteller has edged out Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune to win the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

In a driving finish to the weight-for-age 1,600m race, Foreteller wore down Puissance De Lune after they singled out from their rivals in the final the 200m.

It was Foreteller’s second Group One win since coming from Europe after he took out the Ranvet Stakes during the Sydney autumn carnival.

Trainer Chris Waller accepted with two horses in the Makybe Diva but decided to leave Beaten Up in Sydney to contest the Chelmsford Stakes.

“We chose the right one and we had the right horse fit on the day,” Waller said after watching the race on television at Randwick.

“He’s pulled off a big win.”

Puissance De Lune lost few admirers from a Cups perspective.

He was the first horse to make a move from back in the field and had to travel wide on the turn with Foreteller parked on his back.

Moudre made late ground to take the minor placing.

Well-backed import Sea Moon bungled the start and there were concerns for his well-being as he laboured at the back of the field.

A clever ride from Craig Newitt and astute placement from trainer Chris Waller helped Foreteller to a Group One win over Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune at Flemington on Saturday.

Foreteller wore down Puissance De Lune in Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes after Newitt stalked the favourite’s every stride.

Glen Boss peeled out from back in the field and started to move forward before the turn on Puissance De Lune ($2.35) with Newitt waiting until passing the 300m mark to give chase.

In a driving finish, Foreteller ($15) added his second Group One to his CV with Puissance De Lune denied by a half-head in his first try at Group One racing.

Moudre ($91) led in the chasers in finishing third, another 1-3/4 lengths away.

Sydney’s premier trainer had two runners entered for the Makybe Diva and elected to send Foreteller down and keep Beaten Up in Sydney for the Chelmsford Stakes where he ran second to stablemate Hawkspur.

Newitt wasn’t surprised by Foreteller’s performance.

“I thought he would run really well but I was a little bit unsure whether we could beat the grey horse,” Newitt said.

“If I was following any other horse in the race I probably don’t beat him but I always had the drop on him and it was good to get the bob.”

Foreteller was coming off a pleasing first-up run in the Warwick Stakes.

“It says the whole team is on track,” Waller, who was at Randwick, said.

“They’re a good group of horses and I’m proud to train them.”

Waller has had Melbourne Group One winners before but the victory was the trainer’s first success at Group One level in Melbourne since he opened a satellite stable at Flemington earlier this year.

Newitt believes Foreteller can be a factor for the rest of the spring carnival.

“Hopefully I can stay on this horse now and he’s going to be competitive in whatever he runs in,” he said.

Boss said the race didn’t work out how he would have liked on Puissance De Lune but felt he surged to win until his condition gave out.

Darren Weir was satisfied with the horse’s performance and believes he’s on track for the spring majors.

“He’s had a good healthy blow. He just needs racing,” Weir said.

Tags: foreteller, makybediva, puissancedelune

Category: Racing