Streama’s crowning moment in Doomben Cup may be her swan song

GRAND mare Streama emulated another Guy Walter trained star in Defier when proving too classy in Saturday’s $500,000 Doomben Cup in what could be her farewell to racing.

GRAND mare Streama emulated another Guy Walter trained star in Defier when proving too classy in Saturday’s $500,000 Doomben Cup in what could be her farewell to racing.

Streama has remarkable similarities to Defier, who retired after winning the 2004 Doomben Cup.

That win was his 10th in 34 starts – the identical record Streama now boasts.

Saturday’s success however put Streama one up on Defier by Group 1 wins – four to three.

Walter said he didn’t want to pre-empt the decision of Streama’s owners, but said it was likely she would go to stud this year, just as his other multiple Group 1 winning mare Appearance has.

“She’s been a wonderful mare, now winning four Group 1 races and she’s raced at the top of her game from a two-year-old, where she won the Keith Mackay, up until now where she’s a rising six-year-old,” Walter said.

“This is the crowning moment of her career.”

Blake Shinn in celebration mode after his Doomben Cup victory on Streama.

Blake Shinn said he couldn’t have wished for the race to pan out better, as he was able to lob along behind pacemaker Leebaz and go to sleep in the run.

“When I went for her, she was just there for me,” he said.

“She gives her best for me every time. She puts her heart and soul into every run. She just gives her all.

“It’s very satisfying to win another Group 1 on her, especially for my biggest supporter Guy Walter.”

The Walter-Shinn partnership has become one of the most successful in racing, winning close to 100 races together in the past two seasons at a healthy strike rate of 23 per cent.

“Guy and his wife Wendy have been great supporters of mine and since linking up with them my career has gone from strength to strength,” Shinn said.

“The future is really bright for our stable.”

Leebaz acquitted himself very well at his first Group 1 attempt and jockey James McDonald and co-trainer Michael Hawkes said his best is ahead of him.

“He has improved so much since his Hawkesbury win, it is not funny,” McDonald said.

“As soon as he grows up a bit he is going to be an absolutely awesome horse.”

Hawkes told Leebaz’s owners the run was “nearly as good as first, except you don’t get paid as much.”

“He’s been beaten by a champion filly who had won three Group 1’s before the Doomben Cup. We had only just won a Group 3 race,” Hawkes said.

“He’s still on the rise and to take on those horses and do what he did was a very good effort.

“It’s been a good ride this time in. He will have a well deserved break now and come back for the spring.”

Originally published as Streama’s crowning moment in Doomben Cup may be her swan song