The jockey of the sprinter rated the world’s best has welcomed the prospect of taking on one of Europe’s elite in Melbourne.
Craig Newitt, who has ridden Lankan Rupee to seven wins including two Group Ones, says Irish horse Slade Power’s planned participation in the Group One VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington is sure to add intrigue.
Lankan Rupee, Craig Newitt – Photo by Sharon Chapman
Slade Power, winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup, will be retired to Darley Stud after he runs at Flemington in November.
But Newitt has utmost faith in the ability of Lankan Rupee to continue on his winning way in the new season with the VRC Sprint Classic one of the Group Ones pencilled in by trainer Mick Price.
“The international horses always seem to add intrigue (to the Melbourne spring carnival) and not many of the sprinters come,” Newitt said.
“Slade Power, he’s a nice horse and won the Diamond Jubilee and July Cup over there and he’s in good form. But he’ll need to bring his A-game to be competitive against our bloke.”
Lankan Rupee has recently returned to Price’s Caulfield stables to continue his build-up to a spring return.
The McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 is slated as his first-up assignment ahead of Group One missions in the Moir Stakes, Manikato Stakes, VRC Sprint Classic and then the Hong Kong International Sprint.
Newitt expects to jump aboard the gelding this week for the first time in trackwork since the rising five-year-old returned to work.
Lankan Rupee had a meteoric rise in the 2013/14 season, starting with a win in a rating-78 race at Moonee Valley last October in his first start as a gelding before being beaten in a benchmark-84 sprint later that month.
He ended the spring with two stakes victories and was then unbeaten throughout the autumn as he assumed the mantle as the world’s top ranked sprinter.
A first-up Group Two win was followed by three-straight dominant performances at Group One level in the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith Stakes.
Newitt has marvelled at Lankan Rupee’s rise.
“We always knew he had the ability but since he’s been gelded he’s actually showing it,” he said.
“I don’t think he needs to improve. I think he just needs to come back and hold his form from his last preparation and I think the sky is the limit for him.”
