Lankan Rupee hopes to repel Deep Field, Brazen Beau in Lightning

Lankan Rupee hopes to repel Deep Field, Brazen Beau in

Lightning

Australian Horse of the Year and joint top-rated sprinter in the world Lankan

Rupee (Redoute's Choice) returns from a summer break in the Black Caviar

Lightning S. (Aus-G1) at Flemington Saturday, where he is set for an eagerly

anticipated clash with Team Hawkes' unbeaten four-year-old Deep Field (Northern

Meteor) and Chris Waller's top three-year-old Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible).

Lankan Rupee won three Group 1 events last autumn over 1100 and 1200 meters

and added the Manikato S. (Aus-G1) in October, yet he signed off his spring

campaign with a slightly disappointing third to Terravista (Captain Rio) and

Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago) in the Darley Classic (Aus-G1) last time out.

The six-year-old gelding turned many heads on his latest public appearance in

an 800-meter exhibition gallop at Caulfield last Saturday, a performance after

which jockey Dale Smith, who was warming the seat until Craig Newitt's return

from Singapore for the big race, gave him a rave review.

"Whatever beats him wins," Smith said. "He ran it on his ear and absolutely

steamed to the line."

Trainer Mick Price added, "He's basically done now. I can't do much more for

him and the gallop was good for him."

Alan Bell's and Kia-Ora Stud's Deep Field is yet to taste defeat in five

starts but tackles Group 1 company for the first time. The full brother to

Caulfield Guineas (Aus-G1) winner Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) capped his

spring campaign with a clear-cut victory over Gai Waterhouse's Driefontein (Fastnet

Rock) in a Group 2 event over 1200 meters, and has impressed in a pair of

jump-outs ahead of his return to competition.

"The straight five (furlongs) gives him the chance to use his speed and get

the Group 1, but it's not going to be easy," Bell told the Sydney Morning

Herald. "John (Hawkes) and the boys have done a great job getting him ready for

a race like this and not rushing it. We are hoping he can do the rest."

In stark contrast, Chris Waller was dismissive of Brazen Beau's chances in

the Lightning. The three-year-old colt was bought by Darley in December for a

reported A$10 million on the back of his success in the Coolmore Stud S.

(Aus-G1) and leased back to his 38 owners, who are eyeing a trip to Royal Ascot.

He will face his elders for the first time Saturday, which prompted Waller to

say, "I don't think he can win on Saturday, but gee he's a good horse, and you

shouldn't underestimate good horses."

Speaking of the Royal meeting in June, Ascot's Head of Communication and

International Racing Nick Smith is hopeful that Deep Field and Brazen Beau would

make the trip this season. Last season's expected contender, Qatar Racing

purchase Zoustar suffered a ligament injury in his first piece of fast work in

the United Kingdom and was frustratingly forced to head back home without lining

up.

"It was unfortunate for all concerned that Zoustar suffered a career-ending

injury after traveling to England last year so hopefully his trainer Chris

Waller can set the record straight this year with Brazen Beau," said Smith, who

is currently at Flemington.

"It's still early days but with interest from Brazen Beau and Deep Field,

hopefully it'll be back to normal with Australian representation in the feature

sprints at Royal Ascot this year."

The Lightning is the first event in the 10-race Global Sprint Challenge which

also includes the King's Stand S. (Eng-G1) and Diamond Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) at

Royal Ascot.

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