Lankan Rupee entered for Caulfield return

Former Australian Racehorse of the Year Lankan Rupee is entered to make his long-awaited return from injury in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint.

Lankan Rupee is the highest-rated among the 18 nominations for Saturday’s 1000m-handicap and has 61kg, which is four kilos more than Our Boy Malachi while Wild Rain and Faatinah (54kg) are the only others above the 53kg limit.

The Caulfield Sprint is one of the support races on the Caulfield Cup program.

The plan for the Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee, who has not raced since the Schillaci Stakes in October last year, is to run in Saturday’s race on his way to the Group One Darley Classic at Flemington three weeks later.

Multiple Group One winner Lankan Rupee, who has had two jump-outs in the past two weeks, is at $5 in an early market with impressive last-start winner Hellbent already tightening from $4 to $3.20.

Four-year-old Hellbent came from back in the field at his most recent start to beat subsequent sakes winner Sheidel by 2-1/4 lengths at Caulfield over 1100m.

Wild Rain is at $4.80 having won the McEwen Stakes (1000m) two starts ago before finishing a game third in the Group One Moir Stakes (1000m).

Acceptances for the race are taken on Wednesday morning.