Rupee to have Bletchingly hit-out at Sandown

Brad Waters - Monday July 31

Caulfield trainer Mick Price will gallop Lankan Rupee at Sandown on Wednesday to give the star sprinter a look at the track before Sunday's rescheduled Bletchingly Stakes.

Advertisement
Lankan Rupee will get a look at the Sandown circuit ahead of Sunday's Bletchingly Stakes. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Wild winds at Caulfield on Saturday forced the postponement of the Bletchingly Stakes with the $150,000 feature to be run as part of the Melbourne Racing Club's Grand National Hurdle programme.

Lankan Rupee has not raced at Sandown in his 26-start career but Price will give the five-time Group I winner a hit-out on the circuit alongside his stablemate Duke Of Brunswick, who was also in the Bletchingly Stakes field.

Price said the eight-day delay to Lankan Rupee's return to racing would not significantly alter his plans to run the horse over 1400m at his second and third runs this time in.

"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 said.

"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."

The Sandown circuit is likely to be softer than the Caulfield track but Price said a little more give in the ground would not harm Lankan Rupee's chances of a first-up win.

"It adds to the question of fitness, a little bit but not much."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Torryburn Stud Out To Continue Outstanding Classic Success
As the highest prizemoney earning Australian-bred still in training, six-time G1 winner Voyage Bubble is a graduate of the Inglis Classic yearling sale, having topped the 2020 sale when knocked down to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for $380,000m when offered by the Cornish’s Torryburn Stud. In 2026, the team presents a quaility draft of seven yearlings, four fillies and three colts.
Wrote Mare Turns Back the Clock for Second G3 Bellmaine
Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday.
Black Type for Home Affairs Blueblood Filly
The Group III MRC Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday for colts and fillies produced a dominant winner in Big Sky with blueblood filly La Gitana a gallant third on debut.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 31
Here is the full list of 103 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
30th SW Almanzor - Manzor Blue Wins G3 Wellington Cup
Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 1
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hidrix Breeder Speechless After $1.7mColt Wins on Debut
The $1.7m Easter colt Hidrix (Extreme Choice) surged into Golden Slipper contention with a dominant debut victory in today’s G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
Another Staying Star for St Jean?
It turns out Caufield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was not the only promising stayer by the ill-fated sire St Jean (IRE) sold as part of the Halo Racing Unreserved Reduction on Inglis Digital in November 2024. 
G3 JRA Plate Goes To Willaidow
Having been a great money earner for connections, the Marc and Mitchell Conners trained Shamus Award gelding Willaidow recorded consecutive wins in the Group 3 sprint, taking out this year’s $250,000 ATC G3 JRA Plate (1200m) at Rosehill.
G1 Australian Guineas Aim for Flying Artie Colt
Flying Artie always looked to have a strong three year-old crop to run for him this season and leading the charge is talented colt Sixties, who is his highest priced yearling ever sold and comes from a family very much on the up.