Shane Nichols confident Streets Of Avalon will be too fast in the PB Lawrence Stakes

Streets Of Avalon’s trainer Shane Nichols says a simple task awaits the dual Group 1 winner’s rivals in Saturday’s Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

Nichols said successfully completing a time challenge would decide whether Streets Of Avalon won another weight-for-age feature over the Caulfield 1400m course.

“It’s fairly simple. The deck will be firm and they’ll have to run 1:22 or quicker to beat him,” Nichols said.

Streets Of Avalon ran 1:22.62 to win the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes in February.

The gelding went quicker, clocking 1:21.9 for the Caulfield 1400m course in his maiden Group 1 win in last year’s Futurity Stakes.

Nichols was confident Streets Of Avalon would have the measure of his PB Lawrence Stakes rivals if times were the sole deciding factor.

“I don’t think any of them can run that time,” Nichols said.

TAB punters agreed with Nichols’ assessment.

Streets Of Avalon firmed from his $4 opening quote to $3.50 on Monday before punters went again on Tuesday, forcing the gelding’s quote into $2.80.

The PB Lawrence Stakes attracted no late entries on Tuesday morning, leaving 10 nominations for the $300,000 contest.

Trainer Shane Nichols says a fast time will be required to beat Streets Of Avalon on Saturday. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

Nichols said he expected Streets Of Avalon to face less than nine rivals on Saturday.

“There’s a few of them that are entered elsewhere,” Nichols said.

“It looks like it’s going to dress up as a nice race for him.

“There might only end up being half a dozen runners.”

Sanson posted a narrow win over Streets Of Avalon when the pair resumed in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month.

Nichols expected Streets Of Avalon to reverse that result over 1400m, adding the seven-year-old’s work had impressed him since the Bletchingly Stakes.

“Sansom was good first-up. He might have come on but I would think he would be a risk second-up,” Nichols said.

“All I can worry about is my horse.

“He had his last gallop at Mornington on Tuesday and he’s in pretty good shape.”

Originally published asClock the key to beating Streets Of Avalon

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