Streets Of Avalon is now a Group 1 winning galloper after claiming the Futurity Stakes around the 1400m trip at Caulfield worth $500,000.
Assuming his favourite role as pacemaker, Streets Of Avalon, a $9.50 chance in the race kept finding close to the line with race favourite Super Seth applying a late but unsuccessful dive at the post. Kiwi mare Melody Belle filled out the minor placings in third position.
Read below to find out the jockeys thoughts following the race:
Ben Melham (Streets Of Avalon – 1st)
“I spoke to Shane earlier in the week and I said, ‘you’d be mad not to run him,’ with not many acceptors and no speed in the race. With the track racing the way it was, it gave me confidence. He was able to dictate the terms and it’s a well deserved Group I for this horse. He’s very honest.”
Mark Zahra (Super Seth – 2nd)
“He ran well. Melody Belle kicked up early and made us sit outside the leader, which I don’t think is ideal for him. He had his chance to run down Streets Of Avalon but I think he’s better and he breathes better with cover.”
Opie Bosson (Melody Belle – 3rd)
“I thought it was a great run first up and there’s a lot of improvement in her and she’ll be spot on for the mile next time.”
Dwayne Dunn (Wild Planet – 4th)
“He ran terrific. He’s probably one run short today and he can improve off of that and it was a great effort.”
Glen Boss (Kolding – 5th)
“He was basically on one rein throughout the whole race. Along the back straight, he got on to his Sydney leg, which he was dying to do but he switched on to his Melbourne leg getting around the corner but all his weight was going the other way. When they sprinted, it was on the corner and he was trying to make the corner and was losing ground. I thought that was fine and he should make a nice race of it without winning but he was disappointing that last quarter.”
Brad Rawiller (Black Heart Bart – 6th)
“Really happy with him first up. He’s bit older now and he just doesn’t have the sharpness now and we were probably out of our ground but his last 600m was probably as good as anything in the race.”
Brett Prebble (Kazio – 7th)
“He ran out of his class but I reckon he ran really well. We learned something today, that if we rode him a bit quiet, he might appreciate it.”
Damien Oliver (Cape Of Good Hope – 8th)
“He travelled well in the run but they just outsprinted him when they went. He finished off strong, he just needs more distance.”
