The
Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee worked on the Caulfield course proper on Tuesday morning after 6mm of rain on the Monday night.
Lankan Rupee
The sprinter has recovered from a quarter-crack in his off-fore leg hoof and he will race in three-quarter plates when he starts in the $1m,
Group 1 Manikato Stakes WFA (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night, October 24th.
“We thought it would be better if we put him on the course proper and gave him a good solid hit out and that is what we did,” said
Craig Newitt.
“I cannot notice anything with the issue he had. His work was probably as good as he has been and he sat five or six lengths off a partner and he picked him up and did it very, very easy. He ran a nice time and the track was perfect and he had a good blow obviously.
“We did not get a solid trial into him but he had a good gallop.
“As far as I can see his foot is no problem. He is going to go into the race as good as we can have him and I am sure he will run well,” he said.
The five-year-old
Redoute's Choice gelding has finished second in each of his two races this campaign, the Group 2 McEwen Stakes over 1000m at the Group 1 Moir Stakes over 1200m, both at Moonee Valley.
Newitt is sure that Lankan Rupee needs the open spaces of Flemington to allow him to stride out with the tight turns at Moonee Valley not suiting him.
“The horse has still run exceptionally well. He is a horse with a high profile now and I am sure he will not let us down when goes back to the races.
I can only pin it down to him being a couple of lengths below his best around Moonee Valley,” he said.
“He is a big striding horse and he has a very high cruising speed and those nimble horses who can really get around the corners probably slip away from him on the bend. But he really picked up late and I am sure he will run great in the Manikato.
“I have being saying all preparation that I cannot wait to get him to that race down the straight (at Flemington),” he said.
The Flemington race Newitt refers to is the
$1m, Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) where
Lankan Rupee will clash with the northern hemisphere visitor
Slade Power (IRE), the dual Group 1 winner this northern season in England.
Lankan Rupee is currently on the second line of the
TAB.com.au Fixed Odds market for the
Manikato Stakes.
Favourite is Chautauqua at $3.30, Lankan Rupee at $4.40, Buffering is on the third line at $5.00.
MICK PRICE
MICK PRICE and DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS have teamed up with a strong and athletic colt by impressive first crop sire
REWARD FOR EFFORT.
With
MICK PRICE being the leading trainer of 2yo’s in Melbourne last season and his ability with sprinting types, this represents an outstanding opportunity to become involved with the
MICK PRICE Racing Team.
5% Shares are just $4,475 and ongoing costs average just $6.85 per day. Having sold
16 of the 20 shares the final
4 shares offer a wonderful opportunity to be rewarded on the racetrack with major 2yo races.
