Trainer Clinton McDonald recorded his second G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) victory in the last three years when his Magnus filly Streisand further improved off a last start success in the G2 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (F) to take out Caulfield's $2m juvenile feature by three quarters of a length.
From a betting perspective all the money was coming for the colts with the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude quinella of Closer To Free and Guest House backed into start first and second favourite, just ahead of Ciaron Maher’s unbeaten last start Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unit Five.
Getting away strongly from barrier 10 in the 16-horse field, Melham went forward alongside Closer To Free, allowing the colt to push up on his inside where he went forward to sit on the outside of Lady Moscato before Streisand started to edge forward, sitting three wide.
Getting a cosy run just behind the leaders was the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Home Affairs colt Guest House.
As the flashy faced of Lady Moscato led the field into the home straight, Closer To Free and Streisand pulled away from the field, with the filly getting the upper hand at the 100m mark, pulling away to record success by three quarters of a length.
Closer To Free battled on strongly at his second start to finish second, just ahead of Guest House who didn’t appear to get the luck when he needed it.
Noted working home late was Godolphin’s 2yo Pinatubo colt Zambales, with the half-brother to Tempted finishing a little over a length off the winner in fourth.
Taking her record to two wins (both at black type level) and two second placed efforts (both at black type level) from five starts, with earnings of $1,562,500, it’s interesting to note that the filly was the most experienced runner in the field with five starts.
“What a filly, said McDonald post-race. “The blinkers were used, she floated, but you try things and it worked.
“To all my staff, my trackwork riders, fantastic. She did it the tough way and I thought she was really strong all the way to the line.”
“I just thought she was the most seasoned horse in the race, her fifth start, the way she walked around the mounting yard it was like she’s done it her whole life and she raced that way. It’s just terrific, look out tonight.”
“It's been a tough, tough 12 months. And to have Ali and Harry and my wife Virginia here, it's been terrific.”
“Big bunch of owners, it’s fantastic, it’s what racing needs, there’s kids, mums, dads.
“It’s always great when you win but I’ve been down at the horse stalls today and the vibe here in Melbourne racing is fantastic and it’s what we’ve got to create to keep racing going.”
“Very similar to Hayasugi, very understated, just won by a head and everyone wrote her off in the Diamond, I think she started $18, same with this filly, she’s had four starts, got beaten a short half head in two of them, unlucky when she ran fifth and then she won her fourth start, so I thought ‘have I got this wrong, I think she’s going alright this filly.
“She’s had a solid preparation; she’s just come here and she’s tough and that’s what you need to win these races.”
Ridden in four of her five starts by Ben Melham (with wife Jamie riding last start), the jockey new she would be 110% on race day.
“It was a long-range plan with this filly, enthused Melham. “She showed exceptional ability from day dot.
“She's just had a faultless start to her career, two lovely runs before Christmas, she went out, had time to have a little break.
“She's come back and she'd just furnished every day. Developed and obviously, that's what you want to see from these two-year-olds, she's a ready-made racehorse. Clinton and the team have done a great job.”
“Obviously, well bought by Shane (McGath) and the guys but the team at home do a fantastic job.”
“She's a cranky little thing on the ground, but lovely to ride race day.
“Blinkers first time today, we always thought she’d improve with them on. She was a little bit sleepy going to the start, and I gave her a bit of a squeeze and then she picked up and I lit her up in the barriers a bit just to make sure she jumped because she went to sleep on me again.
“Obviously, a lot of the speed didn't jump and we didn't end up going that quick. I was just in a position where I could control the race and she did the rest.”
“When I rode her first up she’d had one trial. She went back with this race in mind, ran really well, reeled off the quickest last furlong of the day. We thought she’d win the other day, Jamie gave her a lovely ride.
One of just 21 named foals from the penultimate crop of Flying Spur’s G1 Galaxy winner Magnus, Streisand is the lone winner (and stakes winner) out of the Zoustar mare Zouper Star, a half-sister to the Listed winner Best Yet To Come.
Purchased for $100,000 from the draft of Northmore Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by Shane McGrath Bloodstock and Clinton McDonald Racing, the Eldon Park Stud-bred Streisand was originally a $22,000 purchase by Northmore Thoroughbreds and Waterford from the Yarran Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Newhaven Park will offer Lot 458, the half-brother by G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Star Witness at the upcoming Inglis Premier yearling sale which commences on March 1 – surely the colt will need to be named Double Diamond?
Zouper Star foaled a colt by Nicconi in October before being covered by Street Boss, the sire of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Closer To Free.
Passing away in September 2023, Magnus is now the sire of 34 stakes winners with Streisand becoming the fifth individual G1 winner for her sire. It was also the second winner of the meeting for Magnus, whose son Magnaspin won the Listed MRC Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) early in the day.
