Australia: Lankan Rupee, Sacred Falls earn Breeders' Cup berths

The Australian stakes winners Lankan Rupee and Sacred Falls earned fees-paid berths to Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita this fall with wins in Group 1 races at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday.

Sacred Falls won the $2.77 million Doncaster Mile on heavy turf. The victory gives Sacred Falls a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

Sacred Falls (9-1) was one of five runners in the 20-horse handicap trained by Chris Waller, and his runner swept the first four positions. Sacred Falls was ridden by Zac Purton and finished a half-length in front of Royal Descent. The Waller-trained Weary, the 17-5 favorite, and Hawkspur finished third and fourth.

My Kingdom Of Fife, a 100-1 shot trained by Waller, finished 10th.

Lankan Rupee, a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Redoute’s Choice, won the $2.32 million T.J. Smith Stakes over six furlongs on turf. The victory gives Lankan Rupee a berth in the BC Turf Sprint over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Trained by Mike Price, Lankan Rupee won the Smith Stakes as the 14-5 favorite by two lengths over 8-1 Rebel Dane in the field of 15. Lankan Rupee has won four group stakes in Australia this year, including three Group 1 races.

There was no indication after Saturday’s races whether Lankan Rupee or Sacred Falls would travel to California for the Breeders’ Cup races on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.