Multiple Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee heads up a strong list of nominations for the Group 3 $150,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lankan Rupee, above, is among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

The Mick Price trained Lankan Rupee is the highest rated sprinter among the eighteen nominations which also includes the Group 1 placed Supido, Lord Of The Sky and Keen Array.

Lankan Rupee was rated among the best sprinters in the world when he strung three Group 1 wins together during the 2014 Autumn Carnival in the $400,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, the $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and the $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

The 2014 Group 1 $1m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley was added to Lankan Rupee’s list of Group 1 wins but the seven year old has been battling a string of injuries and hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since taking Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival

Lankan Rupee hasn’t raced since running fourth to Malaguerra in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival and is on the comeback trail following an operation to repair some damage to his hock.

Price is hoping that Lankan Rupee can regain some of his old winning form and is pleased with the way the rising eight year old has come through his build up to his return to the racetrack, but is expecting him to be improved with the Bletchingly Stakes run under his belt.

“He’s going to sit off the speed a bit first-up and I’d say he’ll be working home at them. I don’t reckon he can win first-up but I need to get him going,” Price told racing.com.

Price has also nominated Duke Of Brunswick for the Bletchingly Stakes and the five year old is coming off a first up run for a second to Ability in the Listed $150,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 8.

The Robert Smerdon trained Ability is also among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes and will be chasing his fourth win on the trot after being undefeated this preparation.

The Mike Kent trained Supido returned to the track in winning form with a first up victory in the Group 3 $150,000 PFD Food Services Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 15.

Supido is set to clash again with Monash Stakes placegetters Daytona Grey and Murt The Flirt who are also entered for the Bletchingly Stakes.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have three entries for the Bletchingly Stakes, Keen Array, Rocket Commander and Tashbeeh.

Trainer Darren Weir has nominated Chocolate Holic for the Bletchingly Stakes and the former West Australian trained galloper will be having his first start for Victoria’s leading stable after missing out on a run in the Monash Stakes because of a minor hoof injury.

Nominations for 2017 Bletchingly Stakes