3 minute read

Streets Of Avalon had a penchant for leading in his races and his younger sister Orlando Grove looks to have inherited that ability with an all-the-way victory in the $50,000 Ladbrokes Cash In Plate (1200m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

Like Streets Of Avalon, Orlando Grove  is trained at Mornington by Shane Nicholls who was absent from Sandown having headed north to the Gold Coast to begin his inspection of the large book of yearlings ahead of the Magic Millions sale that commences next week. 

Under the guidance of Damien Oliver, Orlando Grove ($3.80) scored a long-neck victory from Johnny Angel l ($4.60) with Nota Single Secret  ($6) a further 2-½ lengths away in third spot. 

Streets Of Avalon  won the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield last autumn among eight wins to date from 52 starts that has netted more than $1.2 million prize money. 

Oliver said Orlando Grove would improve from Wednesday's performance as she was looking around throughout the whole race. 

"The idea was to just try and hold a position but I had a bit of a look and no-one was keen to lead and she was able to take it up," Oliver told racing.com. 

"She was having a good look around and you could see her ears were pricked a good lot of the way. 

"The penny hasn't quite dropped with her yet, but she's got some nice potential there and there is room for improvement." 

Orlando Grove was sent off a $41 chance on debut when second at Yarra Valley last month, but on Wednesday there was some solid late support for the filly who ended up starting the second pick. 

Hayden Black, representing Nicholls, said the stable went into Wednesday race quietly confident after the filly posted some good work at Mornington on Saturday. 

Black said there were few similarities between Orlando Grove and Street Of Avalon. 

"She's tough, but other than that there aren't too many similarities," Black said. 

"He was a late maturer and she's still got some furnishing to do. She's still only a narrow filly, so hopefully there's bigger and better things to come." 

Orlando Grove is by Magnus from the Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare Kamuniak (NZ) and from her two starts has collected $33,810 for her owners Mr P B Warren, Mr T Jackman, Mr P Farrell, Mr S Foxwell, Mr D Dobe, Mr D Healy, Mr R Fletcher, Beena Racing, Mr P O'neil, Mr R Selwood.