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No Winterbottom Stakes for Lankan Rupee
Trainer Mick Price has revealed that a potential trip west to contest the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) is off for Lankan Rupee, after the champion sprinter suffered a minor ligament injury over the weekend.
Lankan Rupee has been forced to return to the paddock with injury. Photo: Sarah Ebbett
A five-time Group 1 winner, Lankan Rupee returned from more than a year away from racing for third in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on October 15th, before he charged home for a commendable fourth in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on Saturday, won by Malaguerra.
Price revealed that the seven-year-old appeared to be sore after his run in the Darley Classic, and will be sent for a spell after scans confirmed the suspensory ligament issue.
“He got scanned this morning,” Price told AAP.
“It’s not a big injury as such but it’s in an awkward spot.
“It is at the origin of suspensory which is the part that attaches on to the back of the cannon bone.
“We’ll take the advice and spell him and that’s all we can do unfortunately.”
Price said that the horse is likely-to-be unable to race until the 2017 Spring Carnival, but believes his reasonably light work load to date will pay dividends in a successful return.
“He probably won’t come back until he’s an eight-year-old but that’s OK as he’s only had 26 starts,” he said.
Lankan Rupee has posted a commendable eleven race wins and eight minors through twenty-six competitive starts, for more than $4 million in prize money.
Undoubtedly finding career-best form to date through the 2014 Autumn Carnival, the Redoute’s Choice gelding stormed home to win the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) before taking out each of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in succession.
Winning the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) most notably in the subsequent Spring Carnival, Lankan Rupee returned in 2015 for a dominant win in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), but was unable to figure in two subsequent starts and was returned to the paddock.
Nominations for the 2016 Winterbottom Stakes are due to be taken by midday, Monday November 21st.
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