Lankan Rupee, the horse with the distinctive (white) heart shape on it’s forehead looks all set to ‘play cupid’ with Australian racegoers in Saturdays’ McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Recently rated the worlds best sprinter, he gets his chance to reinforce that opinion against an intriguing mix of opponents in the Weight For Age contest over 1000m.
Since being gelded the son of Champion sire Redoute’s choice has taken Australian racing by storm winning 7 of his last 8 starts, after a somewhat inauspicious beginning to his career that yielded only 2 wins from his first 8 outings. First up last preparation he absolutely decimated a decent field of sprinters, running a super fast 1100m time of 1.02.50.
He remained unbeaten in 4 starts that campaign, reeling off an amazing 3 Group 1 races in succession, all by considerable margins. Our sprinting ranks had been looking a brittle after the retirement of the great mare Black Caviar, so it was quite apt that this horse assumed her mantle in the very race in which she retired from the racetrack, the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.
He looks to have the measure of his older male opposition here, and seemingly only has to overcome the younger brigade, and a very decent mare that opposes him in Angelic Light. She is in the blackbook and was excellent first up after a long break, at this track and distance after missing the start considerably.
She is drawn to get a nice run in transit from barrier 1, and if she can begin well and keep in touch she is a good chance of running the quinella. Ideally 1200m would be better for her as was the case when she ran a great second here to Norzita in February 2013, in well above average time.
New Zealand four year old entire Cauthen is the interesting runner. He is ‘untapped’ and a win last Spring against fellow three year olds Shamus Award and Long John went on to read very well in the formguide. The former winning the WFA championship The Cox Plate, and the latter the Caulfield Guineas.
He has only raced once in 12 months (back in January), but is with a new stable and has a tongue tie applied first time here. This race is a big ask for him to win, but if there was to be a shock result he could provide it. Realistically he best distance is likely to be 1200-1600m though, so a forward showing here would be pleasing.
Oruja is a three year old colt who really blotted his copybook second up last start, after a nice win first up. He did have a wide run to overcome early, and perhaps the fresh run did take the edge off him. It is also very probably that he found the 1200m too far and he is better suited at 1000m. He drops nicely in weight, but a slightly awkward barrier has done him no favours here.
Three year old filly Eloping could take catching. She has run good time at this distance in the past and likes to lead in her races. From an inside draw she should do so in this, and I’d be surprised if her jockey Linda Meech doesn’t utilise the light weight allocated to her filly, by making this a true speed test.
This race was won by a second tier three year old last year (Kuroshio), when it led all the way to win in a shock result. I have little doubt she is as good as that horse, but whether she is good enough to beat a high calibre sprinter like Lankan Rupee is an entirely different question.
Of the rest I thing Unpretentious is a place chance but probably better suited at 1200m. Our Nkwazi and Academy Jack are fit but just not good enough at this level, whilst It Is Written could run a decent race at odds given his affinity for this track.
Summing up though Lankan Rupee should be too good for his opposition given ordinary luck, he flies first up as evidenced by his win at Group 2 level in the autumn, and a big margin victory here at 955m fresh at his prior preparation. He should cross from his wide barrier and sit just off Eloping in the run, and power away from her in the straight.
Angelic Light should be running on late, and I’d expect Eloping to go very close to to a first three finish. Oruja can put in a better performance, and Cauthen looks the interesting runner, and a possible surprise packet.
Brisburgh Phil selections
1. Lankan Rupee 2. Angelic Light 3. Eloping 4. Cauthen
There is also plenty of quality going around in other races throughout the day, and here are a few that I have black-booked for Moonee Valley & Randwick tomorrow;
Moonee Valley –
R2 Text’N’Hurley – Was quite disappointing when second up last week, but she is back to her own sex here and up to a better 1600m distance. She might be suited by a seven day backup given she hits a ‘flat spot’ in all her races when the pressure goes on. She takes some hard riding at that stage of a race so the negative for mine is an apprentice jockey aboard. Might have to wait for her next start but I want to see her do something here.
R4 Wrotham Heath – can atone here after a very unlucky defeat at this track and distance 2 weeks ago against very similar opposition.
R5 Angelic Light – See above. 1200m would be ideal for her maybe next start.
R6 London Lolly – Deserves another chance given she should strip fitter for her first up run. She is 2/2 this distance and likes the track
R7 Foreteller – He was unlucky first up and this looks an ideal race for him. He did win 2nd up last Spring and was only beaten 1.3L in the Cox Plate at his only run here.
Randwick –
R7 Hooked – Not the race I was looking for! Needs 1600m and preferably 2000m+. Could shock but it would be nice to see him just run on well at the death.
R8 Rock Sturdy – Should go very close to continuing on his winning way. Cluster made his form look better last week with a mighty run.
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