Monash Stakes winner Supido is a noted absentee from the new nominations for the Group 3 $150,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Sunday.

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

The Mick Kent trained Supido scored an impressive first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 PFD Food Services Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 15 and was the nominal favourite for the Bletchingly Stakes which was due to be run at Caulfield last Saturday.

But the Caulfield meeting was forced to be called off after the running of the fourth race because of the gale force winds that were sweeping across the track, compelling the Melbourne Racing Club to reschedule the weight for age sprint to be run at Sunday’s Ladbrokes Park Lakeside meeting at Sandown.

Supido is now likely to be saved for the Group 2 $200,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 9 before chasing a Group 1 win at The Valley in the $500,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 29 and in the $1m Manikato Stakes (1200m) on October 27.

Multiple Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee was also ready to run at Caulfield last Saturday but now heads the fourteen nominations for the Blethcingly Stakes this weekend.

Trainer Mick Price has also entered Duke Of Brunswick and the two stablemates plus the Robert Smerdon trained entry Ability will head to Sandown on Wednesday for an early morning gallop in preparation for the Bletchingly Stakes.

Lankan Rupee is resuming after an injury enforced break and Price is hoping to get the former number one rated sprinter back to near his best and possibly another Group 1 victory to add to his five already on his resume.

Price is keen to step the eight year old up to 1400m this campaign and is aiming towards the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 19 followed by the Group 1 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) on September 2, both at Caulfield.

“If I’m going to the PB Lawrence (Stakes) and then the Memsie (Stakes), it’s still 13 days (between runs). It’s not ideal but I can work around it,” Price told Racenet.

“I’m maintaining a steady course.

“The Aurie’s Star (Handicap at Flemington six days later) is not an option because he’d get too much weight in a handicap so it’s not going to worry me too much.”

Chocolate Holic is the only Bletchingly Stakes nomination from the Darren Weir stable and the former West Australian trained five year old will be stepping out for the first time for Victoria’s premier trainer.

The nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown on Sunday have been extended until 10am on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.

2017 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) nominations