Lankan Rupee is back in action on Saturday at Moonee Valley
The world’s top-rated sprinter Lankan Rupee is unlikely to meet much resistance when he returns to action on Saturday in the $201,000 Ian McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The speed star, a horse Australians are hoping will become Black Caviar part 2, put in a final gallop under Craig Newitt at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.
The pleasing track gallop has trainer Mick Price convinced Lankan Rupee Horseform can continue his winning ways in the McEwen Stakes.
Rated the world’s best sprinter, Lankan Rupee was the first onto the track at Moonee Valley and worked with stablemate Lion Of Belfort over 800m.
Lankan Rupee shaded his galloping partner to set up his return to racing in Saturday’s McEwen – a Group Two sprint. And while Price concedes racing can be unpredictable, he believes the sprinter poised for a winning return.
“I’ll be pretty smashed up if he doesn’t perform right up to his best and run really well on Saturday. I think he’ll win,” Price said.
Lankan Rupee sat off Lion Of Belfort before joining him on his outside and pleasing jockey Craig Newitt with the way he approached the finishing part of the gallop.
“Craig just said he’s flying,” Price said.
Price also had the good looking son of Redoute’s Choice out on the course proper at Caulfield on Saturday morning to make time in a gallop.
Race jockey Craig Newitt had the morning off and Daniel Moor jumped aboard Lankan Rupee, dashing up his last 400m in a slick 22.97sec.
Price will target the major sprints in Victoria over the spring, including the Manikato Stakes in October at Moonee Valley and the Darley Classic on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Potential rivals were not exactly forming a queue to take on Lankan Rupee, and he will eventually face eight opponents as shown by the final field acceptances yesterday.
The three-time Group I winner will line up against William Reid Stakes placegetter Unpretentious, who hasn’t raced since May when seventh in The Goodwood behind Smokin’ Joey.
Orujo would appear well and truly outclassed, but the young colt carries only 52kg and may add some valuable black type to his dam’s pedigree chart with a Group II placing.
Resilient filly Eloping, who had eight starts in her first season of racing for four wins, is committed to taking on Lankan Rupee.
She will carry 49.5kg and Linda Meech will ride her.
Iconic, second to Lankan Rupee in the Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in February, will be nominated but he is by no means guaranteed to accept.
Lankan Rupee has won his last four starts on the trot and looks to add to his growing career stakes total of A$ 2,851,010
His final assignment for the year will be the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December.
