Swettenham 2015 Stallion Roster

Swettenham Stud has announced Puissance De Lune (Ire) will join its new-look roster at Nagambie this year.

PUISSANCE DE LUNE has been retired to Swettenham Stud after a leg injury ruled out any further racing for the son of champion sire Shamardal.

Owner Gerry Ryan has decided against giving the grey another campaign to stand him at Swettenham. The Irish bred stallion joins Ryan’s Melbourne Cup winner Americain on the roster at Nagambie.

“We’ve decided to pull up stumps,” Ryan said. “He’s been a really good horse and now he can do the job as a stallion.”

Puissance De Lune arrived from Europe for the 2012 Victorian spring carnival and made a huge impression with runaway victories in the LR Bendigo Cup and G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Winning jockey Glen Boss compared him to Makybe Diva and So You Think after cruising home by five-lengths at Flemington. "I haven't had that feeling on a horse for a really long time. He relaxes and conserves a lot of energy in running and when you ask him...it's instant power. He’s a superstar!”

Puissance De Lune returned for a short autumn campaign to win the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and, after a winter spell, he looked on course for a stellar spring carnival with an explosive first-up victory in the G2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

He went down narrowly in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes and again in the G1 Turnbull Stakes when Boss blamed the hard track at Flemington. Punters sent him out favourite for the 2013 Cox Plate but he injured a tendon that continued to hamper his career last year.

“It’s a shame we never really saw the best of Puissance De Lune,” Swettenham owner Adam Sangster said. “Glen said he had the speed to win a Newmarket and his family is on fire in the northern hemisphere.”

Ryan bought Puissance De Lune from France on the advice of leading agent Rob Roulston for 100,000 euros. Roulston had also organised the purchase of Americain.

"Rob certainly finds us some very good ones,” Ryan added. “He rang me to say he had this nice horse named Puissance De Lune. He was a reasonably good bargain and exceeded all my expectations.”

Puissance De Lune’s three-quarter brother topped the 2014 Tattersalls December yearling sale when making 325,000gns (AUD 653,425). He is also a half-brother to the dam of Group 1 filly Rizeena who won the 2013 Moyglare Stud Stakes and 2014 Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes.

Their second-dam is a sister to Serena's Song who was the Champion 3YO Filly of her generation in the USA winning the G1 Beldame Stakes, Hempstead Hcp and Haskell Invitational.

His sire Shamardal won the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at two and completed a classic double in the 2005 French 2000 Guineas and French Derby. He has already been represented by 13 Group 1 winners including Hong Kong superstar Able Friend.

Shamardal colt Lope de Vega emulated his sire in the 2010 French 2000 Guineas and French Derby and he was Europe’s Champion first-season sire last year.

Lope de Vega has made a similar impact with his first Australian bred two year-olds and fellow Shamardal stallions Captain Sonador and Shamoline Warrior are also off the mark with winners this season.

Puissance De Lune will stand for an introductory service fee of $11,000 (inc gst) this year. Swettenham also has lifetime breeding rights available for $25,000.