Lord Of The Sky to take on Lankan Rupee in the Spring

Trainer Robbie Laing can see Lord Of The Sky taking on the new world number one sprinter Lankan Rupee during the Spring Carnival if his speedy three year old can score a hat trick of wins in the Group 3 $150,000 Slickpix Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lord Of The Sky is shaping up for a hat trick of wins in the Bletchingly Stakes.

Lord Of The Sky is shaping up for a hat trick of wins in the Bletchingly Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Lord Of The Sky has been installed the odds on favourite for the weight for age sprint after winning over 1000m at Caulfield on May followed by a dynamic display of speed with a four and a half lengths win over Le Bonsir in the Group 3 $135,000 Polytrack Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 5.

Another win by Lord Of The Sky will tempt Laing to step the colt up to Group 1 company and a clash with Lankan Rupee in the feature sprints during the Melbourne Spring Carnival is on the cards.

“I think he (Lankan Rupee) is a similar type of horse to my bloke,” Laing told the Sportsman.

“Depending on how he goes I’ll look at the Memsie or freshen him up and look at some of the sprints.”

The Group 2 $200,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 is the likely Spring Carnival starting point for Lankan Rupee before he steps up to Group 1 company starting with the $450,000 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.

The Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 will follow then onto the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8 with trainer Mick Price not ruling out a trip to Hong Kong for the Group 1 HK$15m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 14.

Laing has no concerns about Lord Of The Sky tackling 1200m for the first time in the Bletchingly Stakes and is even contemplating stepping the rising four year old up to 1400m of the Group 1 $400,000 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield at the end of August.

“I don’t see the 1200m as being a problem for him, if anything the tempo will be probably slower than it was (in the Monash),” Laing said.

“I’ve been pleased with him and he should win again.”

Lord Of The Sky dominates the market order for the Bletchingly Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au marking him as the $1.60 favourite ahead of Le Bonsir at $6.50, Adelaide filly Thiamandi at $8.50 and last start Flemington winner Nearest To Pin at $9.50.

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.