Lankan Rupee confirmed as world’s best sprinter

Lankan Rupee has been confirmed as the world’s best sprinter in the latest Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, released on Friday by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. They cover the period from 1 January to 4 May 2014.

The 4YO son of champion sire Redoute’s Choice was awarded a figure of 123, up from 121, after his commanding two-length victory in the ATC T.J. Smith S. G1 at Randwick last month. The Rankings Committee’s comment was, “Lankan Rupee has improved with every race and showed his versatility by winning on heavy ground this time.”

Lankan Rupee (ex Estelle Collection by Stravinsky) is trained by Mick Price for his owner-breeder Muzaffar Yaseen of Teeley Assets and has won all but one of his eight starts this season, including two of the three major Melbourne Autumn sprints, the MRC Oakleigh Plate G1 and the VRC Newmarket H. G1. (The third leg of that treble, the VRC Lightning S. G1 was won by Snitzel’s daughter Snitzerland, foaled and raised at Arrowfield in the same year as Lankan Rupee.)

Lankan Rupee is also the highest rated Australasian horse on the Rankings, just ahead of Arrowfield’s latest stallion acquisition Dundeel, who has been assessed at 122, ahead of Sacred Falls (120), Boban, Carlton House & Fiorente (all on 118).

The champion sprinter is one of 18 stakeswinners from the 107 foals in Redoute’s Choice’s remarkable 9th crop, a group that includes two other Group 1 winners, Royal Descent (Australian Oaks) and Wylie Hall (South African Derby).

The Teeley Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Sale later this month includes Lankan Rupee’s dam (in foal to Redoute’s Choice), his full sister Charming Estelle (in foal to Manhattan Rain) and the weanling colt by Manhattan Rain from Charming Estelle.