A first win at Warrnambool in twenty years for Nash Rawiller as the 2-year-old Puissance De Lune (IRE) colt La Pleine Lune won be panels on debut in the Rafferty's Tavern Hcp (1200m).
La Pleine Lune made all the running; the further they went, the bigger the margin. The Ben, Will, and JD Hayes-trained colt defeated the Shamus award debutante Guerite by nine lengths, with the SoYou Think first-starter a length back in third.
"To see him win like that was a great thrill," Ben Hayes said.
"He is very professional, and I think you saw that today. He jumped, was able to muster, and travelled. He might have been flattered by the way the track is playing. Still, he won by nine lengths, and few horses can do that.
"A big thank you to Victor (Lee), who has been a great supporter and is nearly one of our biggest owners."
A $80,000 purchase for Victor Lee from the Collingrove Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Showcase Session, La Pleine Lune is the first foal of the Snitzel mare Cinq Dames.
A winner at Mornington and Geelong in 13 starts, Cinq Dames is a half-sister to stakes-placed Fast Cash (Fast Forward) from the Choisir mare The Loan Express, who ran third in the Group II Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and was fourth in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.
Cinq Dames was sold on Inglis Digital in 2022 for $6,500 to Melissa Ick when carrying a sister to La Pleine Lune.
Snitzel's daughter was not covered last spring.
