Price sticking to Adelaide plan with Rupee

After accepting for Lankan Rupee in both Melbourne and Adelaide, trainer Mick Price is sticking to his plan to take the former world’s best sprinter interstate for the Spring Stakes at Morphettville.

The Melbourne trainer always had Saturday’s Spring Stakes (1200m) in mind after Lankan Rupee’s first-up second in the rescheduled Bletchingly Stakes but considered changing to the P B Lawrence Stakes.

Lankan Rupee was paid up for in both races and Price said at Sandown on Wednesday he would head to Adelaide.

“I think it’s better for the horse,” Price said.

“I don’t want him to have a gut-buster over 1400 metres second-up after 13 days, after such a long time off.”

He said originally the Lawrence was going to be three weeks after the Bletchingly which would have been a better time-frame to go to the 1400m.

But the Bletchingly was cancelled on July 29 and put back eight days.

“I thought the right thing to do was let him get over his first-up run, which was super, and keep him fresh for the 1200,” Price said.

“But then I thought Vega Magic was going to accept in Adelaide on Saturday, so I thought I’d give myself two options.

“But putting the horse first, the 1200 metres, drawn barrier one at Morphettville, is a better option.”

Price is also taking the risk the Adelaide prize money may not be enough to get Lankan Rupee into the Group One Memsie Stakes because he has not earned enough during the qualifying period.

Lankan Rupee is scheduled to travel to Adelaide on Thursday night while Group One Goodwood winner Vega Magic will start in Saturday’s Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield.

The Price-trained Duke Of Brunswick could also bypass the Lawrence Stakes after drawing barrier 14 of 14, with the option of a 1500m handicap next week at Moonee Valley.