There were tales of woe aplenty but the $1 million Group 1Sportingbet
Manikato Stakes (1200m) was a race for the ages with eight of the 12 starters finishing
within three-quarters of a length of the winner.
In a driving finish the big-hearted Lankan Rupee earned his
fourth Group 1 win under Craig Newitt but
the drama did not end there.
Damien Oliver on second placed Angelic Light and Tim Clark
on third placed Famous Seamus protested against the winner for causing a chain
reaction of interference when coming across from an outside barrier but the
stewards threw it out after an uncomfortably long time chewing it over.
Beaten into second place at his two starts this season after
earning the world's best sprinter tag after rounding out the previous season
with three consecutive Group 1 wins, Lankan Rupee takes his overall record to
10 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 19 starts for earnings of $3,583,010.
"I'm very relieved, said winning trainer Mick Price.
"That was a very gutsy ride, crossing Buffering, we
certainly didn't want to see a repeat of what happened four weeks ago.
"He's a very hard horse to get passed, Buffering, especially
if he is allowed to run his first three (furlongs) - Damien Browne is pretty
good on him.
"We were either going to eyeball Buffering but to cross him
so early, I think it was good that he got about 400 metres there where he got a
breather but my heart was pumping, it was fantastic he has been such a great
horse for us.
"The Darley Classic is next and I can't wait for Flemington."
Craig Newitt said the son of Redoute's Choice has a fierce
will to win.
No horse in this country could've done what he did out there tonight."
"He's just a rocket this horse out of the machine. He got
the bit between his teeth and I sent him to the front. He was there to be run
down but his class shone through. Wait till we get back to Flemington."
A homebred for Teeley Assets, Lankan Rupee is the second
foal of the Group 3 winner Estelle Collection (Stravinsky-Ana Zeel by Zabeel), who
was knocked down to Coolmore Stud for $1.4 million at the recent Teeley Assets
Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale.
Carrying a positive test to Redoute's Choice, Estelle
Collection foaled a full brother to Lankan Rupee a fortnight ago.
A $240,000 purchase
at the 2005 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Estelle Collection is a
granddaughter of My Tricia, a daughter of the AJC Oaks winner Gay Poss (Le
Filou (FR)).
My Tricia (Hermes) left five stakes winners including three
time Group 1 winner and successful stallion Grosvenor, and the Group 1 WA Derby
winner National Gallery as well as Concia, the granddam of champion racehorse
and stallion Lonhro.
Estelle Collection has an unraced 3yo sister to Lankan Rupee
named Timeless Choice and yearling Manhattan Rain filly that made $400,000 at
the dispersal.
