International raiders may claim our Cox Plate and Cups but Lankan Rupee and a host of hot Aussie sprinters will prevent any international sprinter claiming any sprint title here and uphold our acknowledged practice of creating worldwide, the best quality runners over the short distances.
The Emirates Day test of speed at the Flemington Carnival is the Darley Classic and this year will be a headlined with Irish sprinter Slade Power takes on the Aussie might.
Trainer Mick Price signals they’re still number one after the protest was dismissed against Lankan Rupee on Friday night.
Slade Power won the Gr 3 Greenlands Stakes by 2 lengths (carrying 63.5kg), the Gr 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes by a length-and-a-half and the Group 1 July Cup by the same margin this preparation. However there were no Aussies taking him on this year.
The six-year-old is the best-performed international sprinter to arrive in Australia and is rated third favourite to win the $1 million - 1200m dash down the Flemington straight.
Dynamic Mick Price, trainer of Lankan Rupee, certainly is not surrendering amid the avalanche of international success stories.
Lankan Rupee won a stirring Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night, his fourth Gr 1 in has past five runs at the elite level, having been beaten a short-head in the other (Moir Stakes) by Buffering at his previous start.
He had to overcome barrier nine and his dislike of Moonee Valley’s relentless turns, a hoof injury and change of feed to accommodate the treatment, as well as a missed race which meant a 28-day gap between runs. And he won like the champion he is.
“He is a great sprinter,” Mick Price said.
“He is a gelding and he can win at weight-for-age - year after year, just like Takeover Target.
“I think he will be much better down the Flemington straight and he will be cherry ripe for the Darley Classic. I worry only about my horse and he is going super, so the rest had better bring their best game,” he said.
Buffering was beaten on its merit on Friday night when the gelding couldn't lead, and may not line up in the Darley after its trainer Rob Heathcote excused his horses beaten performance, with the gelding reportedly pulling up sore.
Heathcote said he would see how he recovers before making a decision about the Darley.
Whilst there are also some doubts on Terravista lining up in the Darley after he too had his colours lowered by Lankan Rupee on Friday night, Terravista heralded as "The Best Sprinter in the World" by his Trainer Joe Pride appeared to have no excuses for his beaten performance.
While Lankan Rupee boasts seven wins, two seconds and a third at his 10 starts in the past year — earning prizemoney of $3,428,550 in that time — he is being challenged by a new crop of sprint stars.
Chautauqua, who has won the Gr 3 Bobbie Lewis by 2.5 lengths and the Gr 2 Gilgai Stakes by four lengths at his past two Flemington straight wins, is the $2.80 favourite for the Darley.
He bypassed the Manikato to concentrate on the Darley as he races best down the straight.