Story by Trent Crebbin – Racing & Sports
The strongest ever field assembled for a race at Rockhampton will come together this Saturday, with the $440,000 slot race ‘The Archer’ set to be run over 1300 metres.
Streets Of Avalon is one of two Group 1 winners in the field, along with Stradbroke Handicap winner Tyzone, and one of two Victorian-trained horses alongside the Ben and JD Hayes trained Crosshaven.
Shane Nichols, trainer of Streets Of Avalon, is full of praise for how the race and how the club have gone about attracting horses.
“They’re going out of their way to do everything they can to make things fall into place for us. They’re pretty determined to make it a big annual event,” Nichols told SEN.
Streets Of Avalon is in fine form, despite now being a seven-year-old veteran of 67 starts, coming off placings in the All-Star Mile behind Zaaki and Victoria Handicap behind Ayrton.
Nichols is confident heading into Saturday.
“He’s gone through his paces, he had a gallop at Doomben on Monday morning, he worked nicely. He’s already fit enough,” Nichols said.
Travelling companion Crosshaven, as a more “seasoned traveller”, has also settled in well according to Nichols, with the consistent four-year-old coming off a fourth in the Golden Mile at Bendigo.
Regular jockey Zac Spain will continue his association with Streets Of Avalon after riding in Alice Springs on Sunday, while local jockey Justin Stanley will ride Crosshaven.
Streets Of Avalon is currently on the second line of betting at $4.50 with the TAB behind Apache Chase at $4.00, with Crosshaven equal third pick at $8.00.