Written by Paul Vettise
Miss Leonidas (I Am Invincible) went agonisingly close to a G1 Moir S. and she gained a healthy degree of compensation for her connections with a dashing victory in the G2 McCafe Caulfield Sprint.
The Shaun Dwyer-trained Bendigo speedster left nothing to chance on Saturday under rider Stephen Baster and blazed to the front with the jockey happy to let the mare do her own thing at the head of affairs.
At her previous appearance, she had charged late in the Moir and was narrowly beaten by Nature Strip (Nicconi) and this time she made all her own luck.
“She can be a little bit of a handful, but wanted to go a little bit hard and off the rail so I just went with her and we got the desired result,” he said.
“She’s just fast and you have to go with her and let her think she’s the boss, which she is. I didn’t have much say and I was just the passenger.”
“I didn’t have much say and I was just the passenger.” – Stephen Baster.
Miss Leonidas was clear on straightening and she rallied strongly when God Of Thunder (More Than Ready {USA}) made his bid for glory closer to the fence with the consistent veteran Malibu Style (Magnus) home for third.
The 5-year-old has blistering pace and her dam Happy Play (Barathea {Ire}) was the winner of two minor sprints and she is a half-sister to the G1 Metropolitan H. winner Newport (Encosta de Lago).
Dwyer celebrated Miss Leonidas’ win from afar as he was attending a family function in Queensland, but is keen to give the short-course specialist a break and then possibly look at Group 1 features such as the Black Caviar Lightning, the Oakleigh Plate and the Galaxy H.
Dubai an option
An international campaign will be considered for Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) after he pocketed travelling expenses with victory in the G3 Ladbrokes Moonga S.
“There’s a spread of races in Dubai for him next year, but his rating will go up now and that could be tricky, but we’ll have a look at it,” trainer Shane Nicholls said.
Streets Of Avalon stalked the pace on Saturday and held on gallantly after hitting the front 150 metres from home.
“He gets up on the speed and finds the line, he’s very tough,” Nicholls said. “I don’t know how high he can get, but around this level he’s damn competitive.
“He got a lovely run and he was exposed early, but he found the line like a demon.”
“He got a lovely run and he was exposed early, but he found the line like a demon.” – Shane Nicholls.
Streets Of Avalon had run an eye-catching fourth three runs back in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. before he found the G1 Toorak H. a step too far.
“He drew an awkward gate and had to do too much work,” Nicholls said. “He got found at the mile and realistically I thought this race was his best chance to win this preparation.
“I was very happy with the way he looked in the yard and, generally speaking, when he presents well he races well.”
“I was very happy with the way he looked in the yard and, generally speaking, when he presents well he races well.” - Shane Nicholls
Streets Of Avalon is co-owned by breeder Warren Racing and is out of Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}), who is a sister to the former champion New Zealand 2-year-old Joker’s Wild (NZ).
The West Australian 6-year-old Variation (War Chant {USA}) closed well for second ahead of the previously unbeaten European visitor Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Variation as a yearling
He arrived in Australia as the winner of both of his starts, including the G1 Criterium International at Chantilly at his last appearance 12 months ago.
Royal Meeting was tardily away but quickly got himself into a handy spot under rider Pat Cosgrave, but when asked to unleash he struggled under his 60kg and third was his lot.
