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.

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."

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