Streama and Toydini both failed to fire on the heavy Royal Randwick track in the Doncaster Mile on Saturday and trainer Guy Walter has confirmed that the duo are unlikely to contest the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the same venue this weekend.
Toydini is unlikely to contest the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Toydini was having just his second career start on a heavy track in the Doncaster Mile and was able to make up ground after being settled at the back of the field, but never really got into the race and finished 14th.
Jockey Blake Shinn has formed a strong association with Toydini in recent years and he was of the opinion that the son of Bernardini did not appreciate the rain affected Royal Randwick surface.
“He didn’t handle the real heavy conditions,” Shinn said after the race.
“He tracked into it well in the turn, but never let down off the bridle.”
Walter agreed with Shinn’s assessment of Toydini and confirmed that the track would have to improve substantially for the four-year-old to back up in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Saturday; with a stint in the spelling paddock likely for the Group 1 placegetter.
Streama has previously performed well on rain affected surfaces, but did not relish the conditions of Saturday and faded badly in the final stages of the race to finish a distant 17th.
The Stratum mare has been included in the nominations for both the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick this weekend, but Walter told AAP that the triple Group 1 winner was extremely unlikely to contest either race and could be freshened up for a tilt at the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 before starting a career as a broodmare at the end of the racing season.
“She possibly won’t run again in Sydney, there would have to be a vast improvement in the track,” Walter said.
“I need to discuss it with her owners but the Stradbroke may be her last race.
“At this stage she certainly won’t run on Saturday in either the Queen Elizabeth or the Queen of the Turf.”
Toydini remains in 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets at a quote of $34; with The Queen’s horse Carlton House ($3.50) a narrow favourite from The BMW winner Silent Achiever ($4.40) and Murray Baker-trained It’s A Dundeel ($6).
