Veyron and Streama set for rematch in the Chelmsford Stakes

Kiwi giant killer Veyron and Sydney’s glamour mare Streama are set for a rematch in the Group 2 $175,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Veyron

Veyron (yellow and blue) and Streama (blue cap) cross the line together in the Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.

Veyron, at the good odds of $21, finished too strongly to beat Streama by a nose when the pair met in the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on August 24.

The five time Group 1 winner scored his first win on Australian soil with Cambridge trainer Linda Laing hoping to collect another Group 1 trophy during the Spring Carnival.

Laing has picked out the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 21 and a possible start in the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 as his main Spring targets.

“I will nominate for the Epsom, but depends on what weight he gets,” Laing said.

This is Veyron’s second trip across the Tasman with Laing happy that the eight year old was able to show Australian racegoers his true ability after an unsuccessful Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign.

Veyron finished eighth behind Pierro in the Group 1 $400,000 The Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 6, beaten less than two lengths.

Laing then had to scratch Veyron from the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 20 because of a stone bruise and returned home to New Zealand.

“It was just a shame last prep the he stood on something and got a blood blister in his foot, you definitely didn’t see the best of him,” Laing said.

Streama, ridden by Glen Boss, ran a mighty race first up and was only nabbed right the line by the Kiwi under hard riding from Christian Reith, but will strip much fitter with that run under her belt.

Veyron and Streama are two of sixteen nominated for the Chelmsford Stakes with leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller nominating eight runners in the weight for age feature.

Waller has nominated Bayrir, Beaten up, Foreteller, Hawkspur, Kelinni, Moriarty, Metal Bender, and Royal Descent.

The 2012 George Ryder Stakes winner Metal Bender and Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent are also among the twenty-one entries for the Group 3 $125,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) along with Waller’s other Group 1 winners Sacred Falls and Shoot Out.

Waller is exploring his options to splitting up his runners between Sydney and Melbourne with Beaten Up, Foreteller and Hawkspur also nominated for the Group 1 $350,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

And Royal Descent is also entered in the Group 2 $220,000 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington for the mares.

Royal Descent was beaten first up as a short priced favourite by her stablemate Hidden Kisses when second in the Group 3 $125,000 Kari Aboriginal Resources Inc. Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Warwick Farm on August 24, but Waller expects big improvement from the Redoute’s Choice mare.

“She got a little bit tired but she will derive a lot of benefit from the run,” Waller said.

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.