Star sprinter Lankan Rupee will have a quiet week on the training track in preparation for his clash with Deep Field in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
The equal top rated sprinter in the world, Lankan Rupee returns from a 15-week break in the Group One sprint over 1000m on Saturday.
The Mick Price-trained sprinter goes into his clash against Deep Field with a jump-out, a barrier trial and an exhibition gallop under his belt and with Price delighted at how the gelding’s preparation has progressed.
Lankan Rupee was bothered by a quarter-crack in the hoof on his off-foreleg during his spring campaign which forced him to miss the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield in October.
The gelding returned at the end of that month and survived a protest to win the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in a blanket finish before running third to Terravista and Chautauqua in the Darley Classic at Flemington.
On returning from a spell, Lankan Rupee went about his work in good order taking out a Cranbourne barrier trial before having an exhibition gallop between races at Caulfield last Saturday.
With Dale Smith aboard, Lankan Rupee reeled off the last 400m in 21.85sec with the last 200m in 10.87sec.
Price said Lankan Rupee worked on the Polytrack on Tuesday morning at Caulfield and wasn’t out to break the clock.
“I didn’t have to do a lot with him after Saturday,” Price said.
“He had a good day Saturday and all is fine with him.
“He’s had a good prep for a first-up run.”
Smith has done all the ground work with Lankan Rupee for his return run but Craig Newitt flies in for the ride from Singapore, where on Sunday he won his first feature race since moving there in December.
