The world's highest-rated  sprinter has yet to win this spring but after going down narrowly to Buffering in last month's Moir Stakes, he was reported to have suffered a quarter crack.

Price is not using it as an excuse and has worked with his farrier to have Lankan Rupee at his top for Friday's Manikato Stakes. He was the star of the morning at Caulfield last Tuesday and again on Saturday.

"His work was better than it was last Tuesday," Price said. "He worked with a stablemate and really powered home in the straight. He broke 22 seconds for his last 400 metres, so I'm very happy with him. The hoof problem hasn't bothered him at all over the last fortnight and fitness won't be an issue for him in the Manikato."

McDonald sticks to it

James McDonald will stick with Contributer in the Mackinnon Stakes, even if Caulfield Cup runner-up Rising Romance goes to the 2000m group1 on Derby day. Donna Logan was weighing up her options with the classy four-year-old mare but McDonald will stay on Contributer, which won the David Jones Cup on debut in Australia on Saturday.

"He is a serious horse and I'm booked for him in the Mackinnon," McDonald said. "I think he is only going to get better."

McDonald is set to pick up the Cox Plate ride on Criterion, if Hugh Bowman doesn't beat his improper riding ban on appeal and benefit from another suspension in the Melbourne Cup. The young Kiwi had been booked by Godolphin to ride Cavalryman but with English jockey James Doyle getting suspended at Champions Day at Ascot, he will now ride Willing Foe.

"It has worked out well for me. He looks a good ride and it is always exciting to be on one for Godolphin," McDonald said.

Some luck and rain

Kris Lees went home disappointed after Lucia Valentina ran third in the Caulfield Cup but by Sunday he was thinking about the Melbourne Cup. "It is never good when you get beat but we were a length away from the winner  [Admire Rakti] and ran a faster last 200 metres than him," Lees said.

"She has come through what was a tough run really well and at the moment we are going to the Melbourne Cup. I have spoken to Kerrin [McEvoy] and he is happy to ride her, so he is booked. We just want a little bit of luck and some rain would be nice as well."