Multiple Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee heads up a strong list of nominations for the Group 3 $150,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lankan Rupee, above, is among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Lankan Rupee, above, is among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

The Mick Price trained Lankan Rupee is the highest rated sprinter among the eighteen nominations which also includes the Group 1 placed Supido, Lord Of The Sky and Keen Array.

Lankan Rupee was rated among the best sprinters in the world when he strung three Group 1 wins together during the 2014 Autumn Carnival in the $400,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, the $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and the $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

The 2014 Group 1 $1m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley was added to Lankan Rupee’s list of Group 1 wins but the seven year old has been battling a string of injuries and hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since taking Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival

Lankan Rupee hasn’t raced since running fourth to Malaguerra in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival and is on the comeback trail following an operation to repair some damage to his hock.

Price is hoping that Lankan Rupee can regain some of his old winning form and is pleased with the way the rising eight year old has come through his build up to his return to the racetrack, but is expecting him to be improved with the Bletchingly Stakes run under his belt.

“He’s going to sit off the speed a bit first-up and I’d say he’ll be working home at them. I don’t reckon he can win first-up but I need to get him going,” Price told racing.com.

Price has also nominated Duke Of Brunswick for the Bletchingly Stakes and the five year old is coming off a first up run for a second to Ability in the Listed $150,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 8.

The Robert Smerdon trained Ability is also among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes and will be chasing his fourth win on the trot after being undefeated this preparation.

The Mike Kent trained Supido returned to the track in winning form with a first up victory in the Group 3 $150,000 PFD Food Services Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 15.

Supido is set to clash again with Monash Stakes placegetters Daytona Grey and Murt The Flirt who are also entered for the Bletchingly Stakes.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have three entries for the Bletchingly Stakes, Keen Array, Rocket Commander and Tashbeeh.

Trainer Darren Weir has nominated Chocolate Holic for the Bletchingly Stakes and the former West Australian trained galloper will be having his first start for Victoria’s leading stable after missing out on a run in the Monash Stakes because of a minor hoof injury.

Nominations for 2017 Bletchingly Stakes

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 7x4136x111 ABILITY G 4 Robert Smerdon 94
2 7x7710x617 CASHED G 5 Ryan Balfour 84
3 089x60229x CHARMED HARMONY G 7 John Sadler 100
4 111121612x CHOCOLATE HOLIC G 4 Darren Weir 97
5 2351556×52 DAYTONA GREY G 7 Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas 94
6 112x0x89x4 DIVINE TEN G 7 Kelvin Bourke 89
7 24x43139x2 DUKE OF BRUNSWICK G 5 Mick Price 94
8 4x2089x039 EVERY FAITH M 6 Robert Smerdon 82
9 83x211478x KEEN ARRAY G 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 104
10 x169x3x34x LANKAN RUPEE G 7 Mick Price 115
11 15920×0926 LITTLE INDIAN M 4 Robbie Laing 68
12 0x00x415x6 LORD OF THE SKY H 6 Robbie Laing 104
13 x3189348x3 MURT THE FLIRT G 5 Brendan McCarthy 88
14 0x6518437x ROCKET COMMANDER M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 95
15 3047×49155 SANTA ANA LANE G 4 Lee & Anthony Freedman 96
16 1x17731x1x SAVANNA AMOUR F 3 John Meagher
17 x113x930x1 SUPIDO H 5 Michael Kent 103
18 x344943x19 TASHBEEH H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 101

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.