Crossroads race for sprinter Lankan Rupee

Thursday 12 October 2017, 4:43pm

The way former Australian Racehorse of the Year Lankan Rupee lets down at the business end of the Schillaci Stakes is likely to determine whether his race career continues.

The Mick Price-trained gelding resumes from a let-up in Saturday's Group Two Schillaci (1100m) on his home track at Caulfield for his first start since finishing last in the Spring Stakes in Adelaide in late August.

Price said the gelding has had a good preparation into Saturday but race day pressure would tell the story.

"He's had a good prep and he's at the stage as an eight-year-old now where we just have to have a look at his action under pressure," Price said.

"He works good and trials good. We just need to see what he does in the last furlong (200m).

"He's been such a good horse for the stable. He's won five Group Ones and $4 million. I'm not going to persevere past a point where I think he can't be competitive."

Different issues have restricted Lankan Rupee to just five starts in the past two-and-a-half years.

The gelding won three Group One sprints during the autumn of 2014 and added two more Group One wins the following season.

Lankan Rupee, to be ridden by his regular jockey Craig Newitt, is at $7 for the Schillaci with this year's Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel the $4 favourite ahead of Super Cash at $6.

Trainer Andrew Noblet had planned to start Super Cash's campaign in the Group One Moir Stakes (1000m) last Friday week but had to reset his sights when the five-year-old was too far down the ballot order.

Super Cash won the Group Two Rubiton Stakes, beating Group One winners I Am A Star and Chautauqua, over the Caulfield 1100m during her autumn preparation this year, one of three wins for the mare when she has been first-up from a spell.

"She was ready to go in the Moir so it was just a matter of keeping her ticking along and getting her up again for Saturday," Noblet said.

"Her run in the Rubiton was good and all her fresh runs have been good."

– AAP

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