| What | Australia Stakes |
| Where | Moonee Valley – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 |
| When | Friday, January 22, 2021 | 8pm AEST | Race 4 |
| Prizemoney | $200,000 |
| Distance | 1200m |
| Status | Group 2 |
| Race Conditions | Weight For Age |
| 2020 Winner | Scales of Justice – 58.5kg | Jockey: Dean Yendall | Trainer: Lindsey Smith |
| Recommended Betting | |
 Top Horse Racing Bookies |
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Group racing returns to Victoria when the Group 2 Australia Stakes is set to be run and won at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The featured event on The Valley’s eight race card is over 1200m and is worth $200,000 in total. Despite a small field of six being accepted for the sprint, the class comes from former Group 1 winner Streets Of Avalon and the Bletchingly Stakes winner from the winter in Viridine. The 2020 winner of the Australia Stakes was the late Scales Of Justice.
The Group 2 Australia Stakes is set to jump at 8pm.
Best Bet: #1 Streets Of Avalon
Streets Of Avalon is a proven performer over the years, and we’re backing him to get back into the winners’ stall for the first time since his win in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. He comes to the Australia Stakes first up, and despite being a maiden when first up, his record is decent enough to suggest he will play a crucial role in the race with four minor placings from seven first up attempts. He’s won at Moonee Valley before and has had three minor placing finishes to his name at the track from six attempts. His recent jump out at Mornington showed he’s come back in fine order where he blitzed the likes of Warning and Lyre, and looks primed to take down the small field he meets here on Friday night.
Next Best: #3 Viridine
The Godolphin galloper Viridine is arguably the best horse in the race, but whether he gets the race run to his liking is another story. Streets Of Avalon will make sure it is a genuinely run affair, but The Valley on a warm night has been known to favour on-pace runners, which is the only query behind Viridine. He beat home Streets Of Avalon by three quarters of a length when they met in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on July 25. With the unique challenges The Valley holds, Viridine will need some favours go his way, but If he gets those breaks, he will certainly be fighting out the finish.
Best Value: #5 Tavisan
The Mick Price trained Tavisan has been racing in consistent form so far this preparation without breaking through for a victory. Has two minor placings from three starts this time in, and rarely runs a bad race. He’s a galloper who tends to race up on speed and maps to sit outside Streets Of Avalon. The advantage Tavisan will have over the fancied runners is he is approaching peak fitness for this run, and if he can run out a genuine 1200m he looks to be the best value tip in the race.
Australia Stakes betting strategy 22/1
| $100 win: | Streets of Avalon |
| $30 Boxed Trifecta: | 1,3,5 |
