Winner of the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington two starts back, the Magnus gelding Streets Of Avalon earned his second stakes win in Saturday's Group III Victoria Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Given a positive ride by Clayton Douglass the Shane Nichols-trained gelding defeated the favourite Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux) by a half-neck with Fastnet Tempest (Fastnet Rock)) another one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (images Grant Courtney)
It advances the record of Streets Of Avalon to record to 6 wins, 7 seconds and 8 thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $634,860.
It was a first stakes win for Douglas.
"I can't thank the owners and Shane enough, I've worked for Shane for a long time now, to get the opportunity it's a bit of a proud moment," Douglas said.
Nichols said
he continues to be marvelled at the improvement the 4yo son of Magnus has made.
He's a remarkable horse, to improve from three to four like he has," Nicholls said.
"I don't know how much he has won this time in, it's got to be close to three or four hundred (thousand dollars) so we've had a terrific time with him.
"You just saddle him up and send him to the races and he just tries.
"He was well rated by Clayton Douglass I think he is the real story. He has won his first Group race and he's been with me a long time and it's just terrific to see a young man I really admire and works really hard win a Group race.
A homebred for Warren Racing, Streets Of Avalon is the best of two winners out of the Black Minnaloushe mare Kamuniak who was a $75,000 yearling purchase at 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.
Kamuniak has a yearling filly Magnus and a filly foal Starspangledbanner. She was bred back to Magnus last year but missed.
