Sprinting sensation Lankan Rupee heads the nominations for the Group 2 $200,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Lankan Rupee headlines the McEwen Stakes nominations. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club has extended nominations for the weight for age sprint until 10am on Tuesday September 2 after only receiving thirteen initial entries.
John Sadler has nominated the unlucky Vain Queen after the mare ran into several dead ends when fourth to Flamberge in the Group 3 $135,000 theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Angels Beach from the Peter Moody stable and the Robbie Griffiths trained Angelic Light look set to clash again after finishing second and third in the Listed $120,000 1Print Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 23 while Griffiths has also entered his smart sprinter It Is Written.
Classy New Zealand four year old Cauthen is set to kick off his Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign in the McEwen Stakes and Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison’s smart filly Eloping in set to resume against the older horses although she is also nominated to run against the fillies in the $80,000 Super Vobis Stakes (1200m).
Anatina, I’M All The Talk, Unpretentions and Sessions have all be entered to take on Lankan Rupee but all eyes will be on the world’s number one sprinter.
Lankan Rupee took all before him during the Autumn and collected a hat trick of Group 1 wins before being rated the top sprinter in the world.
The Mick Price trained sprinter finished too strongly to win the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 before blitzing the field in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
Price then headed to Sydney where the Redoute’s Choice gelding continued his domination and ploughed through the Randwick mud to record a two lengths win over Rebel Dane in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 12 before being sent for a break.
Lankan Rupee has pleased Price and rider Craig Newitt since he has been back in work and wasn’t pushed out when second in a recent Cranbourne barrier trial.
“I gave him a backhander just to wake him up and get him rolling, and he trialled great,” Newitt told AAP.
Lankan Rupee will have his final gallop before his return to the race track on Saturday with a hit out at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning and Price is expecting a bold showing on the weekend.
Price believes the float trip from Caulfield to Moonee Valley in the morning will also help stimulate the high class printer for his return.
“He can get on the float and get a bit excited and have a good gallop,” Price said.
