Talented sprinter Lankan Rupee has been included in the 2014 Manikato Stakes first acceptances despite being treated for a quarter crack on his inside front hoof last week.

Lankan Rupee was upset by Buffering in the 2014 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 26. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Lankan Rupee was set to run in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield this Saturday and was ruled out of the race due to the hoof injury, but trainer Mick Price remains confident that the Redoute’s Choice gelding will be fit to run in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.

“He actually had his first gallop here since we put that wire across the quarter crack,” Price told TVN this morning.

“The foot is good, the work was good and he didn’t blow that much.

“I am thankful that I have four weeks between runs now because I have had to miss a little bit of work with him, but the track was good here and I thought that I would just ask him to gallop and see how he went.

“He ran a bit of time, his beautiful free-striding action was good and C Newitt said that he wouldn’t know any difference if you haven’t had said anything about a quarter crack.

“I think that we have caught the quarter crack right and it is just a matter of if its hold under pressure.

“I am pretty confident with it and it is off to Moonee Valley again.”

Lankan Rupee has been beaten in both of his race starts during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he will need to perform at his best when he takes what is set to be a tough field in the Manikato Stakes.

Angelic Light beat Lankan Rupee in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 and has been included in the Manikato Stakes first acceptances, while Buffering is chasing back-to-back wins at Group 1 level after taking out the Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.

Chautauqua stamped himself as a genuine Group 1 contender when he produced an outstanding four lengths victory in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington this weekend and is a chance of making his Group 1 debut in the Manikato Stakes, but the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 8 is another possible target for the Encosta De Lago gelding.

Another sprinter that is set to take winning form into the Manikato Stakes is Joe Pride-trained Terravista and tough sprinter Famous Seamus.

Terravista started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a comfortable win in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 23 and he produced another strong performance to take out the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at the same venue on September 20, while Famous Seamus took out the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Other notables horses that have been included in the 2014 Manikato Stakes first acceptances include Kiwi mare Bounding, Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake, Peter Moody-trained Moment Of Change, the returning Overreach, veteran sprinter Temple Of Boom and Moir Stakes placegetter Rebel Dane.