Paul Snowden is keen to have his predictions of improvement proven true on Saturday when he runs his father Peter Snowden’s evergreen veteran Launay second-up in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes 2013 at Caulfield Racecourse.

In an event that hosts the race return of 2013 Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune, Lonhro seven-year-old Launay has gone under the radar somewhat for the $220,000 Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

Darren Weir’s proven stayer Puissance De Lune, Glen Boss’s and the punters’ pick to win the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November, is the $2.40 favourite to win their fourth straight in the Lawrence first-up.

Occupying the third line of betting meanwhile is then the early market mover Launay who is starting to get a bit of love.

Drawn on the rails in gate one with Kerrin McEvoy to ride, Snowden’s hopeful returned to racing off a 17 week break on July 27.

It was a nice effort from the dual stakes winner too as they finished third behind the reigning PB Lawrence Stakes winner Second Effort, a $5.50 chance of going back-to-back on the weekend, in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Snowden is confident they will have taken lots of improvement from that run and will come even closer as they go up to their pet distance on Saturday looking to add to their impressive second-up record.

“It’s a nice race for him,” Paul Snowden told AAP.

“He was always going to improve from his first-up run and his second-up form is pretty good.

“All we wanted was a good gate and he’s drawn barrier one.

“It gives him a chance to finish top three again, for sure.”

Before their last spell Launay was a good fourth behind Budriguez, who dead heated with Puissance De Lune to win the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington one run earlier, in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap over the same track and distance as the Lawrence Stakes.

One run prior to that they won over the 1400m at Flemington in the Listed TAB Stakes beating a smart field of autumn gallopers.

While the track, distance, barrier and timing are all spot on Snowden’s only concern is beating the favourite who he hopes won’t be ready to strike with races like the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup on the horizon for them.

“He’s not going to be fully wound-up though, is he,” Snowden said of Puissance De Lune.

“But they can all sprint well fresh.

“Just have a look at Tuscan Flyer last week.”

Dour stayer Tuscan Flyer was a surprise Flemington winner last Saturday taking out a 1400m handicap first-up as a $101 roughie.

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