Jockey Spain Wins First Group 1 With Streets Of Avalon

It may not have been the strongest running of the Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (G1), but Zac Spain is unlikely to let that worry him after he partnered Streets Of Avalon to victory in the time-honored feature Feb. 6 at Caulfield Racecourse.

The 24-year-old was having just his 10th ride at the highest level, but there was little sign of inexperience as he guided the Shane Nichols-trained Streets Of Avalon with aplomb.

Making the most of his mount's tremendous will to win and his tenacity, as well as the fact the 6-year-old had race fitness on his side after taking the Ladbrokes Australia Stanley Wooton Stakes (G2) a couple of weeks ago, Spain punched Streets Of Avalon to a half-length victory over Imaging with 3-year-old Crosshaven a further 2 1/4 lengths away in third. 

"I don't think it has sunk in yet," an excitable Spain said. "I celebrated a bit after the line and was calling out a fair bit. He's just been a super horse to me. Career changing, really. He was my first listed winner, then group 2, and now a group 1. I can't thank Shane, Phil Warren, and the whole ownership group enough. They've stuck strong with me and to repay them with a group 1 win is fantastic.

"Hopefully Mum and Dad were watching. They'd be shedding a few tears. I hope I made them proud and even my two brothers, Johnno and Adrian, they'd have been watching. I'm just so overwhelmed.

"It's so hard and competitive in Melbourne. So hard. It's just all about opportunities. I don't ride in town much but when you ride these good horses in town you need to capitalize and to get the job done is fantastic."

Nichols originally planned to send Streets Of Avalon straight to the PFD Food Services Futurity Stakes (G1), a race he won last year, but instead opted for the Orr with tremendous results.

"The heart was racing," he said. "I gave the heart a test and it came through in flying colors. I don't know whether mine works as good as his (Streets Of Avalon) but when Imaging came to him I thought we were in a bit of strife but he just came again. He found and was holding the other horse on the line. It was a remarkable performance by a tough horse.

"I'm in admiration of this horse. He's a warrior. For a horse that has had as many runs as he's had to still be fronting up winning group 1s is a remarkable performance."

Streets Of Avalon is one of four group 1 winners and 22 individual stakes winners for the ever-reliable Magnus. His dam Kamuniak (Black Minnaloushe), an unplaced sister to champion New Zealand 2-year-old Jokers Wild, missed to Magnus in 2019 but produced a colt by the Sun Stud stallion in 2020. She was again served by Magnus in September.

Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) winner Sir Dragonet started as the favorite in a betting market that confounded many ratings experts, especially given he had given no indications that he would have the speed to prevail at 1,400 meters. Off the bit before the turn, he plugged home dourly to finish seventh of the nine runners, 10 lengths from the winner.

"I was surprised when the sprint came on, he came off the bridle a bit," rider Glen Boss said. "He was very dour with me. But we've learned a valuable lesson today. … We just found that he hasn't got the speed to win over seven (furlongs)."