Juvenile summary: Thumping victory for Streisand in Blue Diamond

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Experience pays off for Streisand in Blue Diamond

Trainer Clinton McDonald won his second G1 Blue Diamond Stakes on Saturday with the filly Streisand (Magnus) and rates her experience as a key factor. Like his first winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}), Streisand had four starts leading into her Blue Diamond victory. Streisand won by three-quarters of a length from Danny O’Brien-trained Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Guest House (Home Affairs) in third.

“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,” McDonald said.

“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.”

It wasn’t all happiness with McDonald copping a punch to the nose in the celebration scum after the race. “It’s the first time I’ve been punched in the nose in the mounting yard, I’ve wanted to punch a few jockeys but I’ve just copped one myself.

“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.”

Hayasugi won both the Blue Diamond lead up races on her way to her G1 Blue Diamond victory, having run a second and fourth in her first two starts. Streisand had an almost identical program, placing in her first two starts, before a fifth in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f) then victory in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) last start.

“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.” Streisand has two wins from five starts with earnings over $1.55 million.

Sales: Sold by Yarran Thoroughbreds for $22,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale to Northmore and Waterford, she went through Northmore Thoroughbreds’ Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft where Shane McGrath and Clinton McDonald spent $100,000 to acquire her.

Pedigree: She becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for deceased Magnus and the first Group 1 winner for Zoustar as a damsire.

Streisand is the second winner for Zouper Star (Zoustar) whose first foal Rich Star (Rich Enuff) won his maiden at Clarence River on Thursday. Her yearling colt by Star Witness will be presented by Newhaven Park Stud at the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 478.

Zouper Star, a winner of two races, is a half-sister to Listed winner Best Yet To Come (Econsul) and Group 3-placed Simply Put (Charge Forward).

Silver Slipper to Stokes in stakes double

Trainer Phillip Stokes had a dual-state juvenile stakes double after he made the decision to scratch Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) from the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and head to Sydney for the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes.

It was a hot field with last start G3 Cannonbury Stakes winner Hidrix (Extreme Choice) and G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) sent out as joint favourites, but it was Stretan Ruler who flew down the centre of the track for jockey Chad Schofield to beat Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Eviction Notice (Stay Inside) by three and a half lengths with Hidrix in third. Shiki was fifth.

“He is a nice horse. I thought enough of him to have him in the Blue Diamond. We scratched because of the barrier and it's a big thrill,” said Stokes.

“He put paid to them, conducted himself beautifully. He's an exciting colt going forward. I just think the trip away now, he will take a lot of benefit from this. First time going Sydney way too. Has conducted himself well there too. Chad Schofield gave him a lovely ride. He filled me with confidence when he got on the horse. A lovely watch.”

He will press on to the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.

“I haven't had a runner in the Golden Slipper but I've had plenty of 2-year-old winners so we will get him there in best (condition). I was going to take him home but I think we will leave him here now and let him acclimatise to this hot weather. He is staying at Mick Price's.”

Stretan Ruler ran second on debut in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes before Christmas, then had a let up before running fourth last start in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g). He has earnings over $210,000 from his three starts.

Sales: Bought by Stokes Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $220,000 from Willow Park Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. He is the 49th stakes winner sold by Willow Park Stud.

Pedigree: The first stakes winner for first season sire Wild Ruler, whose other winner to date is stakes placed Savage Look. Stretan Ruler is a half-brother to Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed $1.2 million earner Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}). The yearling full brother to Stretan Angel was the second top lot at the recent Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, making $540,000 to the bid of Equine Growth Fund.

Their dam, Sretan (Bernardini {USA}), is a half-sister to Group 2-placed Alegria (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), the dam of G2 Brisbane Cup winner and G1 Victoria Derby-placed Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}).

Rebel Tuesday wins Listed Cinderella Stakes

Rebel Dane’s juvenile resurgence might have begun with the Listed Cinderella Stakes victory of Phillip Stokes-trained filly Rebel Tuesday. Rebel Dane sired G1 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn from his second small crop of 28 foals, but several tiny crops following that had him drop off everyone’s radar.

He gained a boost in mare numbers through Fireburn and his largest crop are now 2-year-olds. Placed as a pre-Christmas juvenile, Rebel Tuesday won her maiden last start and had to chase hard down the straight after leader Never Ordinary (Dirty Work), just sticking her nose in front on the line.

With two wins and two placings from four starts, Rebel Tuesday becomes the third stakes winner for Rebel Dane, who has just 59 runners in his stud career to date.

Sales: Sold by Jen Campin Bloodstock via Inglis Digital in November 2024, Rebel Tuesday was bought by JP Bloodstock for $30,000.

Pedigree: A half-sister to Listed winner and G1 Spring Champion Stakes-placed Ganbare (Maurice {Jpn}), Rebel Tuesday is out of Mardi (Redoute’s Choice) whose last foal is a Hitotsu yearling colt.

Mardi is a four-time city winning daughter of G3 Newcastle Gold Cup winner Bianca (NZ) (Painted Black {Jpn}) who also placed in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap.

Favoured Martist set for winter campaign

Tony Gollan-trained debut winning 2-year-old colt Martist (Trapeze Artist) will be set for the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes. Sent out as a $1.55 favourite, Martist saluted by three-quarters of a length from Chris and Corey Munce-trained Eddington (Cosmic Force) with Stuart Kendrick-trained Doubtwilly (Zousain) in third.

“He's a lovely, relaxed colt who's still got a lot to learn, as you can see,” Gollan said.

“He was laying in on top of them in the straight and he's nowhere near the finished product. Once we get him out towards the mile, he'll be a really nice horse. He's an intelligent horse and a good-looking bloke.

“I pulled up on him with the pre-Christmas stuff because he wasn't quite there yet. But as far as the winter carnival goes, when those races start to get to the 1400 metres and the mile, I think he'll be a pretty exciting horse. He did that pretty easy today. He didn't run any special times but he didn't have to, they just dawdled about out there and he was able to sprint home late.”

Co-owner Stephen Kirkham bred Martist’s dam Marishiten (Astern).

Sales: Sold by Lucas Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Shane Crawford and Kara Waters for $110,000.

Pedigree: He is the first foal of Marishiten whose yearling filly by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was withdrawn from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Marishiten is a half-sister to Listed winner and sire Sebring Sun, and this is the family of Group 3 winner Caballus (I Am Invincible) and R. Listed Inglis Nursery winner Saltaire (Star Turn).

Dirty Work filly on track for Group 1

Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) had to put in a big effort to snatch victory on debut at Ellerslie. The 2-year-old filly was ridden by Craig Grylls for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, leading all the way. She was pushed all the way down the straight by Chad Ormsby-trained State Of Valour (NZ) (Sword Of State). The two battled well with Summer Schemer prevailing on the line. In third, half a length away, was Seize The Day (I Am Invincible).

“Libby Bleakley put her through the yearling sales and didn’t get quite what she wanted, and she was keen to retain her anyway, so she’s made the right call there,” said Ritchie.

“What a beautiful filly. I bought a Dirty Work colt based on the temperament of this filly and he won at the trials yesterday at Avondale. He’s a son of Written Tycoon who might be alright.” Dirty Work, a second season sire, has 14 winners led by R.Listed Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic winner Do I Feel Lucky.

“I didn’t think she’d lead today. We were hoping she’d get a sit and I noticed she rolled out a little on the line. I’m not sure she’s quite up to that (G1 Sistema Stakes) but she will get to the Sires’ so that will be the main goal.” Summer Schemer had to survive a protest to retain the win.

Sales: Sold by Crossley Thoroughbreds to Bleakley Bloodstock at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for $60,000, Summer Schemer was passed in by Highden Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: The second winner for Summer Wind (Stratum), Summer Schemer’s yearling half-sister by Toronado (Ire) will be presented by Crossley Thoroughbreds at the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 378.

Summer Wind is a winning half-sister to Exceed And Excel pair of G3 Red Anchor Stakes winner Thermal Current and Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes winner Forever Free. They are all out of Listed Proud Miss Stakes winner Soaressa (Twining {USA}). Soaressa is a half-sister to three stakes winners led by G1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}), as well as G1 Robert Sangster Stakes-placed Listed winner Impressive Eagle (Rubiton) and Listed winner Assertive Eagle (Danewin).