Lankan Rupee led from start to finish in a barrier trial at Cranbourne this morning and is on track to return to the races in the 2015 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 10.
Lankan Rupee led from start to finish in a barrier trial over 800 metres at Cranboune this morning. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Lankan Rupee contested the opening barrier trial of the morning over 800 metres at Cranbourne and he was taken straight to the lead by Craig Newitt in the early stages of the trial to open up a gap on Angelic Light and Srikandi.
Newitt kept Lankan Rupee under a heavy hold throughout the barrier and he quickly fought off General Jackson and he was able to hold-off Angelic Light, who was urged along slightly by jockey Ivan Culliver, to record an easy win.
The barrier trial was Lankan Rupee’s first public appearance since he failed to fire in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and he is set to have another barrier trial before he returns to the races in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 10.
Lankan Rupee is then set to defend his title in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 23 before he returns to Flemington for the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on November 7.
Angelic Light hit the line strongly to finish second in the barrier trial in what was her first public appearance since she finished seventh in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 27 – her only race start during the 2015 Melbourne Festival Of Racing due to a minor tendon injury.
Trainer Robbie Griffiths said after the barrier trial that Angelic Light had shown no long-lasting effects from the tendon injury and he confirmed that she will return to the races in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 2.
“We are really happy with her,” Griffiths said.
“We are a bit behind in our preparation, so our target is now the Moir to resume.
“I was really happy with her trial and all going well we can resume in good order.
“I am really pleased that the Moir Stakes is 1000 because we were behind in our fitness and we elected to give up the opportunity to run in the McEwen to save her for the Moir.
“So far the leg is good.”
Srikandi rounding out the placings in the opening barrier trial of the morning and she found the line strongly in her first official hit-out since she took out the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) and Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
