Despite having his colours lowered unexpectedly first up, star sprinter Lankan Rupee has scared off most of his competitors for this Friday night’s Group 1 Moir Stakes and will only face four opponents. Trainer Mick Price, who won this race last year with Samaready, took Lankan Rupee’s defeat in the McEwen Stakes on the chin and remains confident that the world’s highest rated sprinter will bounce back with a win here. He’ll have no excuse should he not be and is the odds-on favourite at $1.50. Buffering, 2012’s winner of the Moir Stakes, is on the next line at $6.00 with Angelic Light, the underrated mare who caused the boilover in the McEwen Stakes, at $6.50. Sydney visitor Rebel Dane, who for the first time will be ridden by leading hoop Craig Williams, is $8.00.
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Moir Stakes 2014 Field:
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUFFERING | Robert Heathcote | Damian Browne | 3 | 58.5kg | |
| 2 | LANKAN RUPEE | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 2 | 58.5kg | |
| 3 | REBEL DANE | Gary Portelli | Craig Williams | 4 | 58.5kg | |
| 4 | UNPRETENTIOUS | Nikki Burke | Damien Oliver | 1 | 58.5kg | |
| 5 | ANGELIC LIGHT | Robbie Griffiths | Ryan Maloney | 5 | 56.5kg |
1. BUFFERING – D Browne (7)
As he has done in each of the past two years, grand campaigner Buffering will be using this race to launch another preparation. He won the 2012 edition, defeating Ready To Rip, and ran second last year to impressive winner Samaready. The now 7yo will get a lovely cart off of Lankan Rupee who has drawn his immediate inside and will lead. Will make sure the favourite has to produce his best if he is to win.
2. LANKAN RUPEE – C Newitt (2)
Sent out the 2/9 on favourite when resuming in the McEwen Stakes in search of his seventh straight win. Together with the 3yo filly Eloping, who carried 50kgs to his 58kgs; they set a solid speed up front over the 1000m and in doing so, provided the perfect trail for ultimate winner Angelic Light who was tracking the pair. Just gassed himself on the hot tempo last start but with further fitness and a good draw, we should see him back to his best.
3. REBEL DANE – C Williams (4)
Found a nice spot in the run but just took a bit to wind up when third (long neck) behind Sweet Idea and Messene in the G2 Missile Stakes (1200m) seven weeks ago. That was his sixth race under WFA conditions and although he hasn’t finished far from the winner on each occasion, he is still yet to break his WFA maiden status. Kept fresh by trainer by Gary Portelli for this and the solid speed up front should see him finishing hard – just has he did when fifth (1 lengths) behind Buffering in the G1 Manikato Stakes this course last year.
4. UNPRETENIOUS – D Oliver (1)
Got a long way back from the hot speed that they set up front and was only warming to the task last when first up in the Listed Carlyon Stakes when seventh of nine (5.6 lengths) behind Angelic Light and Lankan Rupee. That was his first start in seventeen weeks so he’ll strip fitter and did run some big races at this level last season including a fifth (2.5 lengths) in the G1 The Lightning (1000m) and, at this track/trip, a neck third to Spirit of Boom in the G1 William Reid Stakes. Will enjoy the solid speed up front and with a touch of luck around the turn, will be finishing hard.
5. ANGELIC LIGHT – R Maloney
Resumed from a fifteenth month break to run third (1.1 lengths) in the Listed Carlyon Stakes, a fantastic effort after missing the start by three lengths and being inconvenienced in the straight. The 5yo mare than caused a boil-over by defeating Lankan Rupee in the G2 McEwen Stakes last start where she stalked a hot speed and finished a shade too strong for the star sprinter, winning by a narrow margin. May need a bit of luck from the draw to find a similar position here but last start wasn’t a fluke.
Moir Stakes 2014 Odds/Results:
RACE OVERVIEW
Small field is disappointing and makes it hard to go past the top two, who should lead and be able to set a pace to their own liking. In the McEwen ‘freshness’ and Eloping were blamed for forcing a pace that softened up late. No excuses for Lankan Rupee this time. Buffering is a tough competitor and ensures the last furlong is a real test; don’t surprise to see him put the pressure on earlier than expected. That could play into the hands of Rebel Dane who should tag the pair from gate four. Just took a few strides to warm up in the Missile Stakes – another race dominated by on-pacers – and was closing well late. Kept fresh for this and will get a lovely run.
- LANKAN RUPEE
- BUFFERING
- REBEL DANE
- ANGELIC LIGHT
News:
Lankan Rupee has put his working partner to the sword in a Moonee Valley gallop to suggest the star sprinter is on target for the Group One Moir Stakes.
The Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee, the highest ranked sprinter in the world, suffered a shock first-up defeat in the McEwen Stakes but returned to the Valley on Monday morning.
Working with stablemate Lion Of Belfort over 1000m and quickening from the 600m mark, Lankan Rupee sprinted clear of his partner in the straight to finish at least four lengths in front.
Lankan Rupee will chase his fourth Group One win this year in Friday night’s Moir Stakes (1200m).
“I think he has improved a lot and he’ll be hard to beat,” Price said.
Price expects the step up to 1200m, with added fitness under his belt, to suit Lankan Rupee better than the 1000m first-up when he eyeballed three-year-old filly Eloping in front before Angelic Light peeled off his back and defeated him by a narrow margin.
“I remember when he beat Snitzerland down the straight over 1000 metres (last spring). I don’t think 1000 is his ideal distance,” Price said.
“I think 1200 metres is a really nice journey for him so I’d be pretty confident that he comes here (on Friday night), steps out and does his best. And wins.”
Craig Newitt partnered Lankan Rupee in Monday’s workout and believed it was the first time the sprinter had galloped smoothly the whole way around when working or racing at Moonee Valley.
He said Price had given him the green light to give Lankan Rupee a solid workout.
“Mick just wanted him to have a nice hit-out. He said you don’t have to hold him back to the other horse,” Newitt said.
Price and Newitt won the Moir Stakes last year with Samaready who was retired on Sunday after failing to figure in the finish first-up in a 1200m race at Caulfield on Saturday.
Lankan Rupee’s Moir Stakes opposition will include Angelic Light and also multiple Group One winner Buffering who won the Moir two years ago when it was run at Group Two level and was second last year.
Newitt is also convinced 1200m will be more suitable second-up.
“He won’t be as fresh and I think if he draws a reasonable barrier, with horses like Buffering in there, he should get a nice run in the race. And hopefully class prevails,” he said.
