Australia: Sansom, Streets of Avalon square off again in P.B. Lawrence at Bletchingly

The nose that separated Sansom and Streets of Avalon in the Grade 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Australia on July 24 showed that the two geldings had responded well to multi-month layoffs.

The rematch is set for Saturday’s Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, which is run at seven furlongs at Bletchingly. This time the advantage may be with Streets of Avalon, who has won 6 of 22 starts at seven furlongs in a career that includes 10 wins in 57 starts.

Sansom has won 9 of 21 starts in his career and once in three starts at seven furlongs, in the Group 3 Chatham Stakes at Flemington Racecourse last November when he set the pace.

Streets of Avalon, trained by Shane Nichols, was seventh in this race last year, the third race of a nine-race losing streak that ended with a victory in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley in January. Streets of Avalon followed that success with a victory in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield in February.

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Streets of Avalon and Sansom are quick enough to lead, although the 5-year-old Sansom was very effective from off the pace in the Bletchingly.

The Lawrence Stakes drew a field of 10 and is the first Group 2 race of the new Australian season that began on Aug. 1. The Lawrence is part of the build-up to the leading sprints in Australia in coming months.

The Lawrence is a comeback spot for Superstorm, who was third in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse last October and seventh of 15 in the $5.2 million Golden Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs three weeks later. Earlier in 2020, Superstorm was second in the $3.26 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield.

After the Golden Eagle, Superstorm was sidelined with a bone chip, owner Bob Peters recently told Australian media. A 5-year-old, Superstorm is rated as a contender for Group 1 races in coming months.

The Bletchingly program is available for viewing and betting on DRFBets.com. First post time is 10:05 p.m. Eastern, or 7:05 p.m. Pacific, on Friday.