All So Easy for Streets Of Avalon in Australia Stakes

Mark Smith - Friday January 22

It took eight preparations for Streets Of Avalon to win first up, and the six-year-old son of Magnus chose the right spot to do it in Friday nights Group II Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Fifth Stakes success for Streets Of Avalon (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Zac Spain, the Shane Nichols-trained gelding travelled sweetly on the outside of Tavistan. Making the turn for home, it was clear that Streets Of Avalon had the measure of the odd-on favourite Viridine who had come off the bit and was making hard work of it.

Streets Of Avalon held Viridine by one and three-quarter lengths with Tavisan a short-neck back in third.

With his fifth stakes win Streets Of Avalon advances his record to nine wins, nine seconds and nine thirds from 53 starts with earnings of $1,399,700.

Advertisement

"He's unbelievable, a six-year-old who has had 53 goes," Nicholls enthused.

"We were a bit worried that he had a few soft tissue issues, and is not as fluent as what he has been. When the adrenaline kicks in he can really find the line.

"A lot of credit goes to the team that looks after this horse.

"I thought all the way he would be hard to beat. He landed in a perfect spot, and the tempo was pretty good. When I saw Viridine come off the bridle, I thought just enjoy this moment because it doesn't happen that often.

"He took a while to win his maiden then at three he struggled. The unique thing with him he improved from three to four, from four to five and who knows from five to six.

"We bought a heap of yearlings at the Gold Coast last week, so hopefully this will get a few sold.

"We will try to defend the (Group 1) Futurity next. I don't think he will run again before that, but we will nurse him through and have another crack."

A homebred for Warren Racing, Streets Of Avalon is the best of three winners from five to race out of the Black Minnaloushe mare Kamuniak, a $75,000 yearling purchase the 2009 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

Kamuniak is a sister to the Champion 2YO in NZ in 2005-06, Joker Wild who numbered the Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes and Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes among his seven wins.

Magnus

A three-year-old sister to Streets Of Avalon, Orlando Grove,  finished second on debut before breaking her maiden at Sandown at her most recent start on January 6. She could not improve on that record when finishing midfield the valuable Chandler Macleod Vobis Gold Carat later on in the night at Moonee Valley.

Kamuniak hs an unraced 2yo filly by Starspangledbanner named Stormy Mistress After foaling a Magnus colt last spring, Kamuniak was bred back to the Sun Stud stalwart.

Advertisment

Race Result - Australia Stakes Gr2 1200m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(3) Time: 1:10.06
1
Streets Of Avalon
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 58.5
Magnus
2
1.8
Viridine
- 6g Poet's Voice (GB) x Patina (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
3
2.0
Tavisan
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Evanescence (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 58.5
Inglis April (Early) Online Sale $12,000
Seller: M.G Price Racing & Breeding
Buyer: Sj Racing
Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale $70,000
Seller: Maluka Thoroughbreds, Avenel
Buyer: MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd
4
3.4
Neighbourhood
- 5m Street Boss (USA) x Help (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: E Jusufovic Rdr: M J Dee 56.5
5
4.4
Arcadia Prince
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Arcadia (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Amy McDonald Rdr: Jordan Childs 58.5
6
5.2
Widgee Turf
- 7g Turffontein (AUS) x Greyhound (AUS) (Kala Dancer (GB))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 58.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Streets Of Avalon You Magnificent Old Warrior
While WS Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet (IRE) was never a factor in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Neds CF Orr Stakes (1400m), the Shane Nichols-trained Streets Of Avalon was ready to add another chapter to his storied career.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.