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Deep Field versus Lankan Rupee in Black Caviar Lightning
19 February 2015 12:57 PM
It's a tale of the experienced champion doing battle against the rising star. Who will prevail? At 4.35pm this Saturday Flemington will host what promises to be one of the best sprint racing duels that punters have seen in a while.
It was less than a year ago in May 2014 when Lankan Rupee was rated as the best sprinter in the world. He had just completed an amazing 2014 Autumn campaign where he won all four of his starts including the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith Stakes. He followed that up with an impressive Spring racing season running two close seconds and winning that memorable Manikato Stakes where he jumped from barrier 9, crossed early, and defied eight fast finishing horses to claim victory by a nostrel. His third to Terravista in the Darley down the Flemington straight capped off another strong preparation. All reports are that he is primed and ready to go but it will be up to punters to assess if he is going to hit the heights of last Autumn and whether or not he needs to do that to win on Saturday?
Looking at Deep Field and his unbeaten record of five careers starts, I think Lankan Rupee will need to be as sharp as last Spring. There is no doubt about the class of Deep Field to put up a serious challenge in this race, with reports from the Hawkes stable indicating he has come back stronger and better than ever.
"His action's better and as an overall package he's better for it"
There are some firsts in this race however for the rising four-year-old star. It's his first Group One race, he has James Winks on board for the first time while Dwayne Dunn is suspended, and he has never raced under weight-for-age conditions before. Punters and bookies don't seem to be phased however setting him as early $2.30 favourite while Lankan Rupee, who opened at $2.35, blowing out to $2.50 on Fixed Odds markets.
Other horses in the mix
There's some handy talent outside these two star speedsters that could manage an upset. Chris Waller's Brazen Beau will be tested as he steps out of his own age group for the first time, but he showed plenty of promise in the Spring capped off with a convincing win in the Coolmore down the Fleminton straight.
Watermans Bay didn't have a great Spring in Melbourne however his recent win at Ascot with 62kg suggests he might be ready for a better preparation in Autumn.
Mike Steward