McDonald back In Blue Diamond frame as Streisand strikes at Caulfield
Cranbourne-based trainer Clinton McDonald moved a step closer to a second Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) victory in three years after Streisand (Magnus) broke her maiden with a timely win in Saturday’s Fillies’ Prelude (Gr 2, 1100m) at Caulfield.
Ridden positively by Jamie Melham, the $3 favourite took bad luck out of the equation by racing on speed before proving too strong late, scoring by 0.8 lengths from Chayan with fellow I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) filly I Am Aria another 0.3 lengths back in third.
The victory propelled Streisand to a prominent position in the Blue Diamond Stakes market, firming her to $8 for the Group 1 contest back at Caulfield on February 21.
Streisand had endured a chequered passage when unplaced behind Rubi’s Choice (Rubick) in the fillies’ Blue Diamond Preview (Gr 3, 1000m) on her previous start, but McDonald said race experience proved decisive against less seasoned rivals.
“She’s done all the hard yards,” the winning trainer said. “She’s seasoned whereas a lot of these other horses are still learning their craft.”
McDonald combined with Melham to win the Blue Diamond in 2024 with Hayasugi (Royal Meeting), and the trainer was not shy to draw comparisons between the pair.
“She’ll go a long way in the Diamond. I think she’s got the right mental aptitude for it and the toughness. I’ve said all the way along she’s a bit like Hayasugi, understated, tough.
“This one has a bit more bitch about her, I suppose, a bit more temperamental whereas Hayasugi was a sweetheart. We’re happy to put up with her and we’re looking forward to the next two weeks.”
Melham was full of praise for the filly, though she is expected to hand the ride back to her husband Ben Melham on raceday.
“She’s a push button horse and you need that with a two-year-old,” the winning rider said. “She reminds me of Hayasugi. You can ask her to do anything and be anywhere in the race.”
Streisand was purchased for $100,000 by McDonald and bloodstock agent Shane McGrath and is part-owned by former AFL ruckman Michael Gardiner. She is the second foal to race and first winner out of the winning Zoustar (Northern Meteor) mare Zouper Star, a half-sister to stakes winner Best Yet To Come (Econsul) and the Group 3-placed Simply Put (Charge Forward).
In winning Saturday’s race, she became the 33rd individual stakes winner for the late Widden Stud sire Magnus, who died in 2023.