The amount of rain that falls at Caulfield will determine whether Streets Of Avalon takes his place in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes.
The track on Friday was rated a Soft 7 by Caulfield track manager Jason Kerr with the prospect of the track improving to a Soft 6 for Saturday’s 1200m weight-for-age Group 3 contest.
But that is dependent on whether up to 3mm of rain falls on Saturday.
Pleasing for Kerr though was the breeze at Caulfield on Friday morning.
“It’s an improving Soft 7,” Kerr said.
“There’s a little bit of breeze about but there is a couple of showers forecast, hopefully we’ll miss them.
“The other factor that will come into play is a windy day tomorrow.
“A bit of breeze assists the drying out and if its breezy we won’t get a dew overnight, so there is a chance of it getting to a Soft 6.”
Trainer Shane Nichols said Streets Of Avalon would run if the track was a Soft 6 on Saturday, however he would need to have a discussion with the owners if a Soft 7 or Heavy 8 and would not run if any worse.
“He doesn’t let down fully in it,” Nichols said.
“He was OK in the All-Star Mile on a terrible track, but first-up I don’t think he’d let go if it was too soft.”
Streets Of Avalon finished second to Viridine in last year’s Bletchingly and Nichols believes the gelding is more forward this time around.
“A year ago, we had a slightly interrupted prep with the weather, whereas we’ve been lucky this year as it’s been fairly free flowing for him,” Nichols said.
“He had a nice trial at Traralgon, he went to Sandown for an exhibition gallop and then worked on the inside grass at Mornington on Tuesday morning, so he’s in pretty good shape.
“I think I’ve done enough with him. I try and have him somewhere around the mark where the run will benefit him, but the run won’t do him any harm.”
