A pleasing first-up run and even better second-up statistics have stakes winner Launay on target to challenge Puissance De Lune and Second Effort in Saturday's P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

The Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune heads first markets at $2.25 with TAB fixed odds for his seasonal return, but Paul Snowden, Melbourne foreman for his father Peter, is hoping race fitness and Launay's impressive second-up record can come to the fore.

Launay finished third in the Bletchingly Stakes last start, coming in less than a length behind the winner Second Effort.

Snowden felt the run was "super" and said the seven-year-old had improved since.

Second Effort is again among his rivals in the Lawrence Stakes and is on the second line of betting at $5 to go back-to-back in the 1400m weight-for-age race.

Launay, the third favourite at $7, has only won once from eight first-up attempts but has four wins from six second-up appearances.

"It's a nice race for him," Paul Snowden said.

"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."

While Puissance De Lune is favourite and looms as the class runner, Snowden is hoping the Darren Weir-trained runner isn't at his best so early in his campaign.

Puissance De Lune is being aimed at the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.

"He's not going to be fully wound-up though, is he," Snowden said.

"But they can all sprint well fresh.

"Just have a look at Tuscan Flyer last week."

Puissance De Lune's trainer Weir says the entire is in good shape for his first-up assignment on the back of a jumpout at Ballarat last week.

He is set to follow a weight-for-age path to the Cox Plate before the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Clinton McDonald, who prepares wet track specialist Second Effort, was happy with barrier four for his charge.

"I've done everything I can, the rain is hopefully coming and the horse will race well," he said.