Streisand Bids for Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper Double

Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) heroine Streisand (AUS) will bid to make history when she lines up in the March 21 Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. The daughter of Magnus (AUS) landed the fillies' Blue Diamond Prelude (G2) at Caulfield Racecourse before then taking out the group 1 feature just two weeks later, defeating the reopposing Chayan (AUS) on both occasions. "We've met her twice and beaten her twice," trainer Clinton McDonald said of Chayan. "I feel my filly is the best filly in the land at the moment and she's probably the best 2-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." Courtza is one of only five 2-year-olds to win both the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper, scoring for McDonald's father Ross in 1989, while McDonald's grandfather on the maternal side, Bon Hoysted, also prepared Manikato to achieve the feat 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. It was a slow tempo (in the Blue Diamond), but she still sat wide and sprinted off it, so I think she's in it right up to her ears. She can race on speed, she can race back, she goes on wet and dry. She's got no chinks in her armor." Chayan was promoted to outright favoritism for the AU$5 million Golden Slipper after the top six chances in betting drew gates 10 or wider at the all-important barrier draw March 17; Streisand drew gate 11. Winner of the Reisling Stakes (G2) on her most recent start, the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Chayan was drawn to start from 12 but will move into gate 10 after the emergencies come out of Saturday's big race at Rosehill Gardens. "I'm happy with that barrier for Chayan, she should be able to find a good position with cover,'' Annabel Archibald said. "But it is such an open race and it will come down to luck in running. Guest House has drawn well and I think the Blue Diamond winner, Streisand, is the forgotten filly.'' Connections believe Guest House (AUS) has drawn ideally for Saturday's race after the colt came up with barrier 10. Assistant trainer Ben Elam, representing the stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr., said the gate should suit the big colt, who finished third in the Blue Diamond at his most recent start. "I think the alley is perfect for him where he has got a bit of room to move," Elam said. "He's 565 kilograms—he's not a small 2-year-old—he's a big-bodied colt who is quite athletic. He's not a heavy colt, he's athletic and he's very fast so if he's got a bit more room to move in the early part of what is going to be a high pressure group 1—we can't have him any fitter or better—so goes there with every chance." Guest House fared best among the leading Victorian contenders. Blue Diamond runner-up Closer To Free (AUS) came up with gate 17, while Stretan Ruler (AUS) will jump from barrier 13. Canonbury Stakes (G3) winner Hidrix (AUS), one of three starters for Chris Waller, drew barrier 1, historically the most successful gate in the Slipper with 11 winners, most recently Shinzo (AUS) in 2023. Baker Confident Despite Outside Draws Last weekend's Pago Pago Stakes (G3) winner Warwoven (AUS) is ready for Saturday's 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) test, with his trainer Bjorn Baker confident the forecast rain will only strengthen his chances in the group 1. The colt has barrier 14, while stablemate and pre-draw equal-favorite Paradoxium (AUS) had eased to AU$8 after coming up with gate 18. Baker believes both are still on an upward spiral and says their respective ability to bounce back from different setbacks suffered during halted Magic Millions campaigns in Queensland underscores their toughness. "Both colts have got a great constitution and very good attitudes, so that gives you a bit of encouragement," the trainer said. "They've both been on the way up, so if anything, the back-up could work to our advantage, especially if there is a little bit of rain around and the track does get demanding. Maybe that would tip me towards Warwoven." Rachel King partners Warwoven and if successful, she will become the first female jockey to win the world's richest juvenile race. The youngster will have the addition of blinkers for the first time to help his cause, Baker hoping they can offer a winning edge. "He has worked in them previously and has gone very well so we thought, Saturday is the day to do it," he said. "It's a bit of a risky move, but he's drawn out a touch."