P B Lawrence Handicap 2020 Race Details

Race 8 at Caulfield on Saturday 15 August 2020 is the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

The P B Lawrence Stakes is a 1400 metre handicap race run by the Melbourne Racing Club at Caulfield. It is held during August and is the first Group 2 race of the Melbourne racing year.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the P B Lawrence Stakes page.

P B Lawrence Handicap 2020 Preview

Track: Soft   Weather: Clear

There is a field of 11 runners for the $200,000 PB Lawrence Stakes and 8 of them are having their first-up run from a spell. The betting is fairly open with last year’s winner of this race, Mystic Journey, the early favourite. She is resuming, has won 3 from 5 first-up and won a Devonport trial at the end of July. Second favourite is Savatiano who is also resuming, goes well first up and won a recent trial. Third favourite is Arcadia Queen who hasn’t raced since November but has won both of her first-up starts.

Regal Power is better over longer but is first-up after a good win in the All Star Mile in March. Streets of Avalon has already had one run back for second in the Bletchingly Stakes, and has a great strike record at this track and distance. Kings Will Dream is the oldest horse in the race and normally takes a run or two to reach his peak, but has had two trials in July. Cascadian goes well first-up and likes this distance but hasn’t raced at Caulfield before, while Morrissy has raced through the winter and is very fit, having won at this track and distance last start.  All other runners are currently 25 to 1 or longer.

P B Lawrence Handicap 2020 Runner by Runner

1. Regal Power

This Pierro gelding is resuming from a 22 week spell and ran 4th at Caulfield when last first-up. At his last two starts he ran 2nd in the Group 1 Australian Cup over 2000m, then won the All Star Mile over 1600m at Caulfield on 14 March. He is a talented galloper and although he is better over further, he should go well first up and should be in the finish.

2. Kings Will Dream

He resumes after an 18 week spell, and in 2018 he resumed from a spell to run 4th in this race. Last campaign he was racing in Group 1 company which included 3rd in the Group 1 Orr Stakes at this track and distance. He should never be underestimated.

3. Streets of Avalon

Last start he resumed from a spell for 2nd in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes on 25 July. He has an excellent record at this track and distance with 4 wins and 3 places from 9 races here, including a win in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes back in February. He doesn’t have a good record on rain-affected going, but has to be included as one of the main chances provided the track doesn’t get too much rain.

4. Cape Of Good Hope

This horse is bred for distance and resumes here. He is probably heading for longer targets in the Spring Carnival and will find this too short. Not here.

5. Cascadian

One of two Godolphin runners in the race (the other is Savatiano), this gelding resumes after 19 weeks and has a very good first-up record. He also goes well on soft going. He has only raced the Melbourne way of going once before, when he finished 3rd in the Group 1 Kennedy Cantala over 1600m at Flemington last November. He will make his presence felt.

6. Sircconi

Although he won the Listed Winter Championship Final over 1600m at Flemington on 4 July, he has not been going terribly well in much weaker races. On the positive side he does go well on soft tracks.

7. Morrissy

Last start he led all the way for an impressive 2.5 length win at this rack and distance on 25 July. He has 3 wins at this track and can handle softer going. One for the multiples.

8. Mystic Journey

She won this race in 2019 and has won 11 of her 18 starts. At the end of last campaign she finished 5th in the Group 1 Cox Plate then 5th in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes. She is here to defend her title and I think she can do it. My number one pick.

9. Arcadia Queen

A smart mare that has won 6 of her 9 starts – 5 wins in Western Australia including the Group 2 WA Guineas and the Group 1 Railway Stakes, plus the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes in Sydney. She hasn’t raced for 43 weeks and is having her first run for a new trainer, but has to be rated a good chance.

10. Savatiano

Last week this mare was scratched from the Missile Stakes and hasn’t raced for 15 weeks but won a recent trial.She flies when she is fresh and won the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes over 1300m at her last first-up start. She will be a strong contender.

11. Aristia

She resumes after a 21 week spell and hasn’t had a win for a long time. This looks too hard.

P B Lawrence Handicap 2020 Tips

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
8 Mystic Journey
3 Streets of Avalon
1 Regal Power
10 Savatiano

2020 P B Lawrence Stakes Results

Track was Soft6

Scratchings were  – nil.

 Result  Horse  Margin
 1st  10. Savatiano  (3)
 2nd  6. Sircconi  (10)  0.2 length
 3rd  2. Kings Will Dream  (1)  1.7 length
 4th  5. Cascadian  (11)  2.4 length