Manikato open for an upset
STRANGER things have happened than Streets Of Avalon winning Friday night’s Manikato Stakes at The Valley.
Streets Of Avalon is $51 in TAB’s early market on the $1m sprint, which is a big price for a dual Group 1 winner.
The Group 1 Manikato Stakes has thrown up some shocks in recent years with
Rebel Dane saluting at $61 in 2016 before Hey Doc scored at $21 a year later. Hey Doc won the weight-for-age feature again last year as a $10 chance.
Streets Of Avalon won the Group 2 Australia Stakes over the 1200m at The Valley in January before winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield at his next start.
The position of last Saturday’s Everest in Sydney makes the Manikato Stakes field far from certain, but trainer Shane Nichols can see Streets Of Avalon in the finish at The Valley.
“We won the Australia Stakes over the course, and he won well but this is going to be stronger than that,” Nichols said. “If he draws barrier four or something like that, he probably tucks in behind the speed and he’ll be strong in the straight. He’s not without a chance.”