Third Time’s A Charm For Rupee?

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM FOR RUPEE? 
Lankan Rupee (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), a three-time Group 1 winner last season and the world’s current highest-rated sprinter, has been turned over in both outings this campaign, but that hasn’t stopped punters making him the $3.80 joint-favorite for tomorrow’s G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley. Lankan Rupee earned his first black-type victory just over a year ago at Flemington, and that listed victory kicked off a six-race win streak that saw the gelding take in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, G1 Newmarket H. and G1 T J Smith S. Both his defeats this season have come in the form of second-place finishes over this track. He was nailed late by Angelic Light (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the G2 McEwan S. Sept. 6, and couldn’t get past the veteran gelding Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) in the G1 Moir S. three weeks later. Buffering embarked on a streak of his own last spring, winning three straight Group 1s beginning with this race, and was a enjoying a homecoming to the winner’s circle after four straight losses. Rebel Dane (Aus) (California Dane {Aus}) was tabbed a horse to watch last spring after winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., and although he failed to win in six subsequent attempts through June, he finished second to Lankan Rupee in the T J Smith, and has shaped with promise thus far this season, finishing a narrowly beaten third in both the G2 Missile S. Aug. 9 and the Moir. He is currently joint-favorite with Lankan Rupee. Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}) has missed the board just twice in 11 starts, and could be on the rise after going two-for-two thus far this season. The 5-year-old gelding was still competing at the benchmark level this time last year, but earned his first black-type victory in his second try at that level when taking the G3 Southern Cross S. in February. He added the G3 Liverpool City Cup three weeks later but could manage only 11th in the G1 George Ryder S. Mar. 29 before enjoying a long holiday. He opened his spring account with a two-length victory in the G3 Show County Quality S. Aug. 23, and added the G2 The Shorts S. by the same margin Sept. 20. Bounding (Aus)(Lonhro {Aus}), a Group 1 winner in Australia last season, has never finished worse than second in 12 outings. She has filled the runner-up position in her two Australian starts: the G2 Royal Sovereign S. Apr. 19 and the G2 Gilgai S. Oct. 4.