Darren Weir’s current Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune has been accepted to run first-up against a quality field of fellow spring hopefuls in Saturday’s 2013 P.B. Lawrence Stakes field in Melbourne.

2013 Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune resumes in Saturday's P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.

A winner of their last three starts the talented Shamardal stallion is one of nine final acceptors for this year’s edition of the $220,000 Group 2 Back To Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) – set to run as Caulfield Race 6 at 3:20pm (AEST).

Based at Wangoom near Ballarat the grey five-year-old is topping the latest markets for the iconic $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November after their good staying efforts during last year’s spring carnival.

An eight length winner of the Bendigo Cup over the mile and a half they then stepped up in class and distance at Flemington on Emirates Stakes day and won the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) by five lengths.

Earning the praises of three time Melbourne Cup winning hoop Glen Boss, Puissance De Lune was last seen dead-heating for the win with Budriguez in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 9.

They underwent minor surgery to remove bone chips from their knee after that but are back to top fitness ready to return in the Lawrence Stakes and further stake their claims for the spring cups – Boss retaining the ride.

It won’t be an easy task however with lots of talented rivals in the mix, most of which will have the fitness edge over Puissance De Lune including the reigning San Domenico Stakes winner Second Effort.

The Clinton McDonald-trained Mossman seven-year-old is drawn in gate four with Brad Rawiller to ride and are third-up for the season.

They resumed with a third in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) before improving on July 27 with a Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) win – both efforts at Caulfield with Rawiller aboard.

Also coming via the Bletchingly Stakes is the Peter Snowden-trained Launay who ran a good third beaten under half a length.

Saturday they are sure to show improvement, the Lonhro seven-year-old is a consistent performer not having finished worse than fourth since last October.

Launay will also benefit from drawing the inside alley with Kerrin McEvoy jumping on for the first time since their win over the 1400m in a Flemington black type back in March.

Also coming off some good recent for is Mick Price’s improver Ajeeb who has won their past two on the trot.

The Al Maher four-year-old enjoyed success at Geelong first-up and then took that to the big city winning over the 1400m at Caulfield on July 27, albeit against a far easier class than they face on the weekend.

Also in the mix are David Hayes’ Monash Stakes winner Pago Rock (barrier five) and Peter Moody’s highly spruiked High Esteem (barrier six).

Four-year-old Redoute’s Choice stallion High Esteem went out in top form during the autumn with three straight victories, including the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville, and will be looking to return in the same fashion as they take on older rivals here.

Check out the official P.B. Lawrence Stakes 2013 field, barriers, jockeys and weights in the table below.

Then to get behind your favourites at the guaranteed best prices head over to bookmaker.com.au and enjoy having access to the country’s premier range of fixed win horse racing odds all spring!

2013 P.B. Lawrence Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 6 – 3:20pm (AEST) – 17/10/2013