News

Lankan Rupee edges Manikato Stakes in incredibly tight finish at Moonee Valley

26th Oct 2014

ABC News - Daniel Franklin - Friday, 24 October 2014

Star sprinter Lankan Rupee won a truly memorable running of the Manikato Stakes (1,200m) at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Friday night.

Ridden desperately by Craig Newitt, Lankan Rupee held on by a short head from a wall of seven horses all separated by less than a length.

But the drama was far from over as Damien Oliver (Angelic Light, 2nd) and Tim Clark (Famous Seamus, 3rd) both protested against the winner.

Both placegetters suffered interference soon after the start, with Oliver and Clark alleging Newitt was the culprit as he tried to bring Lankan Rupee across the field from barrier nine.

A lengthy and tense protest hearing ensued as the stewards took evidence from five jockeys. The officials were ultimately not satisfied that the placings should be altered.

"He's a gutsy horse and it was a very gutsy ride," winning trainer Mick Price said.

"I'm just very relieved that he fell over the line, although he was entitled to fall over the line with barrier nine and the amount of effort he had to expend early."

Lankan Rupee went into the spring as the world’s highest rated sprinter after an autumn that won him horse of the year honours.

I'm just very relieved that he fell over the line, although he was entitled to fall over the line with barrier nine and the amount of effort he had to expend early.

But despite two defeats and sustaining a hoof injury this spring, punters sent Lankan Rupee out as the $3.90 favourite for the $1 million Group One race.

"He's had a messy four weeks where he's missed work and every time we had to attend to his foot we had to give him a day off and let it bed in," Price said.

"But he's a gutsy horse ... and I think that will top him right off for [the $1 million Darley Classic] on November 8."

Angelic Light and Famous Seamus were the worst affected by the interference in the first 300 metres and were left rueing their bad luck.

"He got knocked down early but flashed late. He was really good," Clark said.

Rebel Dane (4th) saw little room in the straight before surging late, while the highly rated Terravista was among the wall of horses to narrowly miss out.

"He struggled keeping his balance getting around the corner, but wow, he was great late," Nash Rawiller said.

The Manikato was an amazing prelude to the $3 million Cox Plate meeting on Saturday.