In just three years’ span, Clinton McDonald has twice been crowned ‘King of the Kids’, with Streisand conquering Victoria’s flagship juvenile race at Caulfield.
Two years earlier, McDonald lifted the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) via the late Hayasugi, and Saturday saw filly Streisand repeat the feat.
Jamie Melham steered Hayasugi home, but Ben Melham, her partner, took the reins on Streisand, granting her a smooth journey.
Riding third three-wide beyond pacesetters Lady Moscato and Closer To Free, Melham sensed Streisand, in blinkers for the first go, was at ease a length off the pair.
Composing herself for the finale, she and Closer To Free isolated ahead, Streisand prevailing in the dying stages.
Priced at $11, Streisand forged a three-quarters-length success over $4.60 market leader Closer To Free, as Guest House ($4.80) nabbed third for Melham’s bookended result.
Streisand, a filly by Magnus out of Zoustar-sired Zouper Star, boasted superior exposure in the 16-runner affair, having started four times already by Saturday.
McDonald mirrored Hayasugi’s blueprint, leaving the Cranbourne handler astonished anew at his filly’s starting price.
“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.”
Melham revealed the Diamond win stemmed from extended plotting.
Prior to her spell, winless Streisand flashed elite ability around Christmas, blooming further upon resumption.
“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.”
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