Clinton McDonald is back as ‘King of the Kids’ for the second instance across three years, thanks to Streisand’s success in Victoria’s elite two-year-old feature at Caulfield.
The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) fell his way two years ago through Hayasugi, who met a sad end, with filly Streisand now following suit on Saturday.
Unlike Hayasugi’s pilot Jamie Melham, it was husband Ben Melham steering Streisand to an unhindered ride.
She sat three-wide third externally of Lady Moscato and Closer To Free, with Melham noting the blinkers-debuting Streisand was relaxed a length removed.
Straightening balanced, the pair of Streisand and Closer To Free peeled off, the former seizing control at the business end.
From $11, Streisand bolted clear by three-quarters of a length from $4.60 top pick Closer To Free, Guest House ($4.80) third to bookend Melham’s day with one and three.
Out of Zoustar mare Zouper Star by Magnus, this filly Streisand held the edge in experience among the 16 combatants, having fronted four times prior to Saturday.
Cranbourne-based McDonald stuck to Hayasugi’s successful template, bemused yet again by the market’s assessment of his runner.
“She’s very similar to Hayasugi, very understated,” McDonald said.
“Hayasugi won by a head in the Prelude and everyone wrote her off in the Diamond and she went around, I think, at $18, and it was the same with this filly.
“She ran second twice, beaten a short-half-head twice, ran fifth and was unlucky and won at her fourth start.
“I thought ‘have I got this wrong, I think she’s going alright this filly’, and I’ve said all along she’s had a solid preparation, a faultless preparation, and she’s tough,
“And that’s what you need to win these races.
“I just thought she was the most seasoned horse in the race. 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.”
The jockey Melham called it a patiently executed plan for Diamond glory.
Streisand’s pre-break form sans wins was electric into late year, with post-hiatus work yielding daily progress.
“That’s what you want to see from these two-year-olds,” Melham said.
“She’s a ready-made racehorse. Clinton and the team have done a great 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.
“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.”
Check out the racing betting markets available for the Blue Diamond Stakes.