Trainer Mick Price has revealed that Lankan Rupee is highly unlikely to be seen at the races during the autumn and will be saved for the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival.
Mick Price is hopeful that Lankan Rupee will be able to return to the races during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Lankan Rupee returned to his brilliant best when he gapped his rivals in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 21, but he was unable to produce a similar performance in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 14 and he was found with bone bruising to his off-hind fetlock following his poor effort in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6.
Price was confident that he had got on top of the issue that had plagued Lankan Rupee in the autumn and he started the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 10 as a short-priced favourite, but he was under pressure a long way from home and he could finish no better than third behind Alpha Miss and Cashed.
Lankan Rupee underwent a successful operation to his off hind hock following his Schillaci Stakes flop and he is now in the second stage of his rehab program, but he told Racing.com that he does not think the son of Redoute’s Choice will be ready for an autumn preparation in either Sydney or Melbourne.
“I don’t think that Lankan Rupee will make it for the autumn,” Price said.
“The rehab program is too long for him and it is going to get properly done obviously.
“I think he will just have a longer break and be back for the spring.
“He is just in the second stage of hand walking and he is just about to go into the paddock and do some water walk.
“I think the autumn will be too soon for him.
“I obviously don’t run my horses if I think they are feeling pain and if he is physically right he will come back.”
Lankan Rupee made his racing debut in September of 2012, but it was not until he was gelded over a year later that he was able to show what he was capable of.
He stamped himself as the best sprinter in the world when he took out the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) during the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival, but since that time his form has been inconsistent – although he has still been able to add victories in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Black Caviar Lightning Stakes to his racing resume.
