A post-race scope has found the reason for Lankan Rupee's poor performance in Saturday's Group III Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Photo: Darryl Sherer
Lankan Rupee ran last in the $120,000 event as a $1.95 favourite, dropping out in the straight after leading to finish more than 14 lengths from the winner Mio Dio.
Lankan Rupee's trainer Mick Price said a scope at a nearby veterinary practice showed a problem with the five-time Group I winner.
"We took the horse to the Morphettville Equine Clinic and had him scoped because there wasn't one on course," Price said.
"The horse has EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary haemorrage) rated two out of five, which I think is clearly performance-affecting."
Price said the stable would give Lankan Rupee time to recover but connections would not discuss the eight-year-old's future until he was back to full health.
"We'll treat him and get him home and get him right," Price said.
"We'll put him on green grass for a week or so and give him an antibiotic and bronchio-dilators to clean his lungs and then we'll discuss what to do with him from there.
"It's not uncommon and you read it often in the stewards' report and I think that was the reason for his failure and we'll get him right before we discuss any options going forward."
Mio Dio defeated Lord Aspen ($12) by 1 ½ lengths while Casino Wizard ($6) was another three-quarters of a length away third.
Mio Dio causes a boilover in the Spring Stakes, with Lankan Rupee finishing last. Results: https://t.co/DrE78NTzRfpic.twitter.com/1yQsuUOzGd
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 19, 2017
