Trainer Shane Nichols is hoping a fitness edge will give Streets Of Avalon an advantage over his rivals in Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Streets Of Avalon, above, will have a fitness edge on his rivals in the 2020 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Streets Of Avalon will go into the weight for age P.B. Lawrence Stakes with one run under his belt whereas most of his opposition will be resuming for their 2020 Spring Carnival campaigns.
Nichols was pleased with Streets Of Avalon’s first up effort when second to Viridine in the Group 3 $128,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 25 and expects another bold showing this weekend.
“He’s already shown in the Bletchingly that’s he’s come up again this prep, the others have to prove that too. so we definitely think he’s in with a chance,” Nichols told racing.com.
“Many of those horses have bigger goals further ahead, they’re looking to step out and win Cox Plates and Caulfield Cups, our key targets are earlier in the spring.”
“We’re hoping that being a run ahead of the others will bode well for him, he always puts in a tough and honest performance and Ben Melham will ride him again,”
“He’s sounder than he’s ever been and mentally is in a really good place too.
“This spring has been a long-range plan from basically as soon as he won the Futurity,”
Streets Of Avalon broke through for his initial Group 1 victory with an all the way win in the $500,000 PFD Food Services Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and Nichols is aiming for a second Group 1 trophy in the $750,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Streets Of Avalon is well in contention in the betting for the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and is on the fourth line of betting at $6.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Last year’s winner Mystic Journey sits at the top of the market order at $3.80 ahead of the Western Australian trained pair of Arcadia Queen at $4.80 and Regal Power at $5.
Early betting for the 2020 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.80 Mystic Journey, $4.80 Arcadia Queen, $5 Regal Power, $6.50 Streets Of Avalon, $8.50 Savatiano, $12 Miami Bound, $13 Morrissy, $14 Kings Will Dream, $15 Sirconni, $17 So Si Bon, $26 Cape Of Good Hope, Cascadian, Mirage Dancer, $31 Aristia, $51 Dr Drill.
The post Streets Of Avalon has fitness edge on rivals in 2020 P.B. Lawrence Stakes appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
