Mick Price is hopeful star sprinter Lankan Rupee will be back racing in time for the Group One Darley Classic this spring.

The five-time Group One winner and former Australian Horse of the Year has not raced since finishing third in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield last October.

The gelding has undergone rehabilitation for a hock issue and is now having a month in the paddock before he returns to start a slow build up.

Price said Lankan Rupee’s recovery included walking and work on the water walker and said the report was good when the sprinter underwent scintigraphy tests about 10 days ago.

“We’re just giving him a month on green grass now because he’s been boxed and doing all that rehab,” Price told radio station RSN on Monday.

“I’m not sure if we can make the Schillaci into the Darley, or whether he goes into the Darley first-up.

“But he’s got about three more weeks in the paddock and then we’ll start a longer, slower, careful prep.

“If he gets one run or two runs (this spring), good.

“If not he’ll be cherry ripe for the autumn, hopefully.”

The Schillaci Stakes is on October 6 with the Darley Classic on November 5.

Once the world’s highest-ranked sprinter, Lankan Rupee has lost that title to Chautauqua.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au