IT’S been 16 years since a Victorian-trained horse has won a Golden Slipper Stakes, but there’s a sense of confidence among Melbourne trainers that they can do it this year.
Leading the charge is Clinton McDonald with his Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand.
Before the Blue Diamond Stakes was even held, the Victorian contingent heading to the Golden Slipper Stakes was emboldened by the performance of another local, Stretan Ruler, who bypassed the Blue Diamond Stakes and instead comfortably won the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill by three and a half lengths.
Stretan Ruler’s trainer Phillip Stokes said after the win that things looked a bit different this year, referring to the Melbourne-trained horses being superior to their Sydney rivals.
McDonald subscribed to that theory when he was on SEN on Monday morning, when he described Stretan Ruler’s win as “an eye opener” and “this might be a bit different to other years.”
McDonald confirmed that Streisand will run in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on March 21.
McDonald won his second Blue Diamond Stakes in three years, having also won with Hayasugi in 2024, who also contested the Golden Slipper Stakes but ran last.
He said the difference between the fillies was that Streisand was adaptable in the run as she could take up a forward position or go back, but Hayasugi was one-dimensional and had to rely on swooping home.
McDonald also pointed out that Hayasugi couldn’t handle the wet track on Golden Slipper and Streisand handled all surfaces.
The trainers of the placegetters in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Danny O’Brien with the runner-up Closer To Free and Mick Price with third placegetter Guest House, were also buoyed by Stretan Ruler’s win and their own horses’ runs and they are also heading to Sydney.
O’Brien pointed out that Closer To Free was having only his second start and “he was very brave.”
O’Brien also told Racing.com that a barrier incident didn’t help his Colts’ chances.
“There was a mishap at the barriers when the starter went to let them go and he flew the machine the first time and smashed his face into the front of the gates when they didn’t open. It didn’t help as he didn’t jump as well the second time. He’s got out there and ran a great race, but the winner was too good,” O’Brien said.
Mick Price said Guest House needed to build momentum and didn’t have a chance to be able to do that.
“I don’t believe he had every chance. He had a checkered passage as he’s a momentum horse and he didn’t have clear momentum. The race was a bit messy for him and he was brave.”
“He’s a big, tough sound two-year-old in a very open year. I’d say he’d be going to the Slipper.”
Other potential Golden Slipper Stakes runners from the Blue Diamond Stakes are the unlucky Zambales, who finished fourth and Lloyd Kennewell’s Eternal Warrior.
Both feature in the Racing Victoria Stewards report, with Zambales being held up for clear running from the 400m until the 200m mark and Eternal Warrior held up from the home turn until the 100m mar,k plus he was involved in a bumping duel with Unit Five in the straight.
