All-Star Mile: Police sergeant finally gives Streets Of Avalon a perfect barrier

A police sergeant has succeeded where other owners of Streets Of Avalon have failed at the All-Star Mile barrier draw.

Streets of Avalon will have his third crack at the $5m All-Star Mile at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

The long arm of the law intervened to finally give Streets Of Avalon a perfect draw for Saturday’s All-Star Mile at Flemington.

The Shane Nichols-trained Streets Of Avalon will line up for his third tilt at the $5m All-Star Mile after running 12th and seventh in the last two years.

Barriers 11 and 14 have made the dual Group 1 winner’s task harder in his previous cracks at the rich event.

But he has drawn barrier three for the 2022 edition, thanks to part-owner and Frankston police sergeant David Healy, who had the tough job of drawing Streets Of Avalon’s barrier while other owners were on holiday.

“A couple of the owners are up in Mildura on a houseboat and they were ready on our chat group to let me know what they thought,” Healy said.

“I should have done this barrier draw the last two years.”

While Streets Of Avalon’s owners handled Tuesday’s barrier draw, Mornington trainer Shane Nichols has prepared the gelding for his latest shot at the race.

Streets Of Avalon was only confirmed in the All-Star Mile field after missing out on the top 10 in public voting.

However, Nichols was confident his stable star would be among the 15 runners on Saturday.

“I’d more or less expected to get a run for the last couple of weeks,” Nichols said.

“I know how the attrition rate works.

“He ran in the Futurity a bit underdone so I’ve been training him like he was going to get a run in the All-Star Mile.”

Trainer Shane Nichols was always confident Streets Of Avalon would gain a start in the All-Star Mile at Flemington. Picture: AAP

Streets Of Avalon has finished less than four lengths from the winner at both his autumn starts but Nichols said the seven-year-old had excuses for those defeats.

“He ran on the wet track, which didn’t suit him in the Australia Stakes, then he pulled up with a bad blood count and missed the Orr (Stakes),” Nichols said.

“He needed the run in the Futurity Stakes because he was four weeks between runs and he didn’t disgrace himself.”

Streets Of Avalon needs to improve 4½ lengths on last year’s result if he is to win the All-Star Mile.

The son of Magnus will have firmer ground on Saturday but Nichols still wonders whether his charge can beat the likes of Zaaki and I’m Thunderstruck at level weights.

But he knows Streets Of Avalon will give it his best shot.

“The reality of it is, he can go around and earn 125 or 150 grand or he can stay home and not earn it,” Nichols said.

“He’ll run OK because we’ll ride him to run OK but I wonder whether he can run in the top five.

“He’s going OK and he’ll acquit himself well in a race like this because I think it’s a softer race than last year.”

$5m ALL-STAR MILE (1600m) FIELD

Flemington, Saturday March 19

1 – I’M THUNDERSTUCK (1) – Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr – Jye McNeil – 59kg

2 – ZAAKI (15) – Annabel Neasham – Jamie Kah – 59kg

3 – CASCADIAN (6) – James Cummings – Damien Oliver – 59kg

4 – STREETS OF AVALON (3) – Shane Nichols – Zac Spain – 59kg

5 – LUNAR FOX (14) – Paul Pruesker – Craig Newitt – 59kg

6 – KING MAGNUS (5) – Robbie Griffiths and Matt de Kock – Lachlan King – 59kg

7 – CALLSIGN MAV (10) – Danny O’Brien – Ben Allen – 56kg

8 – MR BRIGHTSIDE (2) – Ben and JD Hayes – Craig Williams – 59kg

9 – ICEBATH (9) – Brad Widdup – Fred Kersley – 57kg

10 – TOFANE (7) – Mike Moroney – Jamie Mott – 57kg

11 – SIERRA SUE (13) – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young – John Allen – 57kg

12 – INSPIRATIONAL GIRL (4) – Danny O’Brien – Damian Lane – 57kg

13 – CAPTIVANT (11) – Paul & Peter Snowden – Patrick Moloney – 59kg

14 – LIGHTSABER (12) – Peter Moody – Luke Nolen – 56kg

15 – PINSTRIPED (8) – Enver Jusufovic – Michael Dee – 56kg

Originally published as All-Star Mile: Police sergeant finally gives Streets Of Avalon a perfect barrier