Streisand has been absent from the track since the Blue Diamond, but post-race occurrences have reinforced her position for this Saturday’s Golden Slipper, Clinton McDonald notes.
The trainer out of Cranbourne expressed particular joy at Chayan confirming the Blue Diamond form with an impressive triumph in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes held at Randwick March 7.
Chayan placed second behind Streisand in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude before fading behind her and others in the Group 1 Blue Diamond February 21, fueling McDonald’s optimism for Rosehill’s $5 million Group 1.
He considers the Magnus-sired filly the standout of her age group among fillies and relishes her shot at proving it across 1200 metres this weekend.
“We’ve met her twice and beaten her twice,” McDonald said of Chayan.
“I feel my filly is the best filly in the land at the moment and she’s probably the best two-year-old, because she’s been the most consistent from the spring to the autumn.
“She’s had five starts for two seconds, two wins and an unlucky fifth on the track where you couldn’t make ground. She’s been consistently good the whole way through.”
Streisand earned victories in the Blue Diamond and Blue Diamond Prelude post a fifth in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview, having been edged out closely in last spring’s Listed Maribyrnong Trial and $500,000 Inglis Banner.
Streisand and Shiki stand as the only pair in this year’s Golden Slipper with five outings, a factor McDonald deems advantageous for the four-week rest.
Just three horses in 40 years have taken the Slipper after four or more weeks off, Courtza included – trained by Ross McDonald for the 1989 Diamond/Slipper double.
Five two-year-olds total have doubled up on Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper wins, colt Sepoy managing it in 2011 as the latest.
Bon Hoysted, McDonald’s grandfather via his mother, prepped Manikato for the achievement in 1978.
“I followed a bit of the same path as dad did with Courtza and we’re going straight to the Slipper (from the Blue Diamond), but we feel that she’s got the race smarts and the race sense to be able to do that,” he said.
Barrier 11 is Streisand’s spot in the Slipper, potentially becoming nine without the third and fourth emergencies, with her gate 10 Diamond win instilling McDonald with barrier confidence.
“It was a slow tempo, but she still sat wide and sprinted off it, so I think she’s in it right up to her ears,” he said.
“She can race on speed, she can race back, she goes on wet and dry. She’s got no chinks in her armour.”
For the Blue Diamond, as before, Ben Melham partners Streisand while aiming for a repeat Golden Slipper glory after She Will Reign in 2017.
Visit premier betting sites to check the latest racing betting markets for the Golden Slipper.
