Guy Walter celebrated his third win in the Group One Australian Oaks as class rather than staying ability got Streama over the line in the fillies Classic at Randwick.
Streama was heavily-backed to start a dominant $1.40 favourite but it took her every bit of the straight to reel in runner-up Aliyana Tilde ($14).
The margin was just a long head on the line with Thy ($12) holding on for third another 1-1/4 lengths away after taking up the running mid-race to make it a genuine staying test.
Walter had previously won the 2400m feature with Republic Lass (2002) and Wild Iris (2004) while jockey Hugh Bowman claimed his second success in the race after winning three years ago on Daffodil.
Streama was originally being set for the Doncaster over 1600m but Walter changed plans a month ago and admitted to being slightly concerned mid-race.
“I was a bit worried with the way the race was run,” Walter said.
“She got a long way out of her ground and had to make up a lot of ground in the straight. She had to work hard for it and 2400 metres is not her forte really.
“I think she’s a much better horse probably fresher and at a mile (1600m) but she got the job done and it’s her second Group One in just a short career so far.
“She’s a terrific little filly and I hope she’s got more ahead of her.”
Bowman knew the leaders were getting away from him at the 600m mark but elected to wait to save the favourite for one effort in the straight.
“I just tracked up behind James McDonald on Full Of Spirit and thought we would fight it out but then he dropped off and I had a couple of lengths to make up,” Bowman said.
“She (Streama) has got a will to win like not many horses have and once she could sense victory, she carried me.”
Bowman has ridden Streama in all of her 13 starts and said adding the Oaks to her Flight Stakes success was satisfying.
“It means a lot and she deserved it,” he said.
“She’s a genuine Group One three-year-old filly.”
Aliyana Tilde is a daughter of Snitzel but her trainer Kerry Parker identified her as an Oaks prospect from just her second start last year and the filly nearly pulled it off.
“I was trying to lift her over the line,” Parker said.
“She tries very hard.
“I went into the race thinking she had a genuine chance if there were any chinks in the favourite’s armour but the favourite was too good. She was the class horse.”
