Chad Schofield knows what star sprinter Lankan Rupee is capable of down the Flemington straight.
And that makes his re-call to ride the gelding in Saturday’s Group One Darley Classic, at the expense of the suspended Craig Newitt, all the more exciting.
Schofield’s only race ride on Lankan Rupee was when the Mick Price-trained star dominated his rivals in the Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.
It is a performance Schofield is hoping the gelding reproduces against a high quality line-up headed by boom sprinter Chautauqua and Slade Power, winner of England’s two premier sprints this year.
“It was the best win on a horse I’ve experienced,” Schofield said.
“No doubt if he can reproduce that, they’ll struggle to beat him.
“He won his last start, overcoming a setback so he’s going to improve. And I’m thrilled to be able to ride him again.”
Lankan Rupee was undefeated through the autumn with three dominant Group One wins but was beaten in his first two starts of his latest campaign at Moonee Valley.
He overcame a quarter crack in his hoof a few weeks before he bounced back to win the Manikato Stakes at the Valley on October 24 in a blanket finish where the first eight across the line were separated by less than a length.
A number of horses from the Manikato are among his opposition again, but bookmakers rate Chautauqua and Slade Power as the horses to beat.
Chautauqua, a brilliant winner over the same course and distance as the Darley Classic in his past two starts, makes his Group One debut and is the $2.25 favourite.
Lankan Rupee is second favourite at $5 while Slade Power is at $7.
Defending Classic winner Buffering, seventh in the Manikato, is a $16 chance but his trainer Robert Heathcote believes he can bounce back from the inside barrier.
“He has recovered from his hard run in the Manikato and barrier one should suit him beautifully,” he said.
Slade Power has his issues in the barriers but Racing Victoria’s chief steward Terry Bailey said he would not be loaded last as his trainer had hoped, but in the usual order.
He has drawn gate four in the 13-horse field.
Jockey Wayne Lordan will be allowed to remove the blindfold on the horse himself, instead of a barrier attendant, just before the start.
