Glen Boss is convinced Puissance De Lune is the horse to give him a fourth Melbourne Cup this spring after partnering him in a jump-out on Saturday.
While there is still a long way to go until the first Tuesday in November, Boss said he couldn't be happier with the progress of the Darren Weir-trained import who is the $6.50 favourite for this year's Cup.
"I wouldn't swap him for any horse at the moment. If you put a gun to my head right now, he's the only horse I want to be on," Boss said.
Puissance De Lune, who Boss said had gained 40 or 50kg during his break, finished second in his jump-out at Ballarat on Saturday morning on a track Boss described as "completely bottomless".
"He just cantered along. He was never out there to do anything, but he's in great shape. I'm really excited," Boss said.
"There's a long way to go but he's really good."
Puissance De Lune made a huge impression last spring when he won the Bendigo Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by big margins.
He returned in the autumn for a cameo appearance and flashed home late to dead-heat for first in the Blamey Stakes.
The six-year-old had to have bone chips removed from his front fetlock joints after his autumn campaign.
"He's better than the autumn, but there's a long way to go," Boss said.
"But he has to be better for where he's going."
Boss won three Melbourne Cups in succession on champion mare Makybe Diva from 2003 to 2005.
Puissance De Lune will kick off his campaign in next Saturday's Group Two P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.