Streama has to go against the trend to win Epsom

High class mare Streama will have to go against a modern day trend if she is to take out the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom(1600m) at Randwick tomorrow.

Streama winning the Group1 George Main Stakes at Randwick.

Streama winning the Group1 George Main Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Only two mares have won the Epsom in the modern era, the Bart Cummings trained La Neige in 1976 and Secret Admirer who led home an all-girls trifecta in 2011 with Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker coming in second ahead of Chris Waller’s Group 1 winner Red Tracer.

The Guy Walter trained Streama is extremely well weighted for a three time Group 1 winner on 54.5kg, only 1.5kgs above the minimum and is in form coming off one of those Group 1 victories in the $350,000 George Main Stakes over this course and distance two weeks ago.

Streama’s other Group 1 wins were the $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes, also run over the Randwick ‘Mile’ on Epsom day and the 2012 Group 1 $550,000 Patinack Farm Australian Oaks (2400m) also at Randwick.

Top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman is looking forward to re-uniting with Streama after missing out on her latest Group 1 win and can see the weight scale of the Epsom is pointed heavily in her favour.

“These weight-for-age horses are now weighted beneficially,” Bowman told AAP.

“With Shoot Out not running, the weights have gone up a kilo and the ones down the bottom are closer in the handicap to the better-performed horses.

“The way the races are weighted now favours the better-performed animals.”

“I’m delighted to be back on her.”

“Her form is good and she is such a consistent mare. She’s just a darling.”

Bowman has been aboard Streama for the majority of her racing life, including the Flight Stakes and Oaks wins, but had to forfeit the George Main Stakes ride when he was committed to the Chris Waller trainer Shoot Out with whom he also had a great association.

Bowman will take over from Blake Shinn who will ride stable mate Toydini who is sharing favouritism with Waller’s last start Randwick winner Boban at $5.

Streama is currently at $6.50 just ahead of the Gai Waterhouse trained Ecuador at $7 who is dropping 7kgs after running second with 60kgs in restricted class over 1900m at Rosehill last Saturday.

Waterhouse will saddle up three Epsom runners looking for her eighth win and back to back victories in the famous Randwick Mile after teaming up with Tommy Berry to win with Fat Al last year.

Her other two runners are Spurtonic ($26) and Ashokan ($101), both at big odds.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.