Lankan Rupee On Target For Moir Stakes
- Monday, 22 September 2014 08:00
Lankan Rupee has put his working partner to the sword in a Moonee Valley gallop to suggest the star sprinter is on target for the Group One Moir Stakes.
The Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee, the highest ranked sprinter in the world, suffered a shock first-up defeat in the McEwen Stakes but returned to the Valley on Monday morning.
Working with stablemate Lion Of Belfort over 1000m and quickening from the 600m mark, Lankan Rupee sprinted clear of his partner in the straight to finish at least four lengths in front.
Lankan Rupee will chase his fourth Group One win this year in Friday night's Moir Stakes (1200m).
"I think he has improved a lot and he'll be hard to beat," Price said.
Price expects the step up to 1200m, with added fitness under his belt, to suit Lankan Rupee better than the 1000m first-up when he eyeballed three-year-old filly Eloping in front before Angelic Light peeled off his back and defeated him by a narrow margin.
"I remember when he beat Snitzerland down the straight over 1000 metres (last spring). I don't think 1000 is his ideal distance," Price said.
"I think 1200 metres is a really nice journey for him so I'd be pretty confident that he comes here (on Friday night), steps out and does his best. And wins."
Craig Newitt partnered Lankan Rupee in Monday's workout and believed it was the first time the sprinter had galloped smoothly the whole way around when working or racing at Moonee Valley.
He said Price had given him the green light to give Lankan Rupee a solid workout.
"Mick just wanted him to have a nice hit-out. He said you don't have to hold him back to the other horse," Newitt said.
Price and Newitt won the Moir Stakes last year with Samaready who was retired on Sunday after failing to figure in the finish first-up in a 1200m race at Caulfield on Saturday.
Lankan Rupee's Moir Stakes opposition will include Angelic Light and also multiple Group One winner Buffering who won the Moir two years ago when it was run at Group Two level and was second last year.
Newitt is also convinced 1200m will be more suitable second-up.
"He won't be as fresh and I think if he draws a reasonable barrier, with horses like Buffering in there, he should get a nice run in the race. And hopefully class prevails," he said.
