The small field for Saturday’s Group One Australian Oaks might have robbed the race of some of its glamour but it has added intrigue when it comes to tactics.
There is no noted leader among the eight runners and trainer Guy Walter isn’t keen to see Hugh Bowman take odds-on favourite Streama to the front in the Randwick feature.
But he concedes the top hoop may have little choice.
“I would prefer that didn’t happen but it may be forced on him,” Walter said.
“I generally give my jockeys a completely free hand on how they ride.
“And Hugh has ridden a couple of tactically brilliant races on this filly to win stakes races on her in the past.”
Walter was referring to Bowman’s rides in the Furious and Tea Rose Stakes last spring when he summed up the lack of speed and camped her on the pace.
Streama forged clear to win both before underlining her versatility when she came from midfield in the Flight Stakes for a rousing 6-1/4-length victory.
Bowman has also been aboard for her four runs this campaign, including a fifth against the mares in the Coolmore Classic.
It was that run which prompted Walter to aim her towards the Australian Oaks (2400m), rather than the Doncaster Mile (1600m) which had been her original target.
Since then Streama has finished runner-up to Mosheen in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) when she chased hard to get within a half-length of the winner who had scooted clear.
Bowman took heart from that effort, saying Streama had done it tough in the Coolmore but showed her resilience to bounce back so well in the Vinery.
“In the Coolmore, at the end of the race she was really under the pump but last start she was strong at the end,” Bowman said.
“The fact she came through that (tough) run in the Coolmore and ran a really good race in the Vinery gives me a great deal of confidence.
“She really seems to be on track and it doesn’t matter what the weather does.”
Punters share Bowman’s confidence with Streama a prohibitive $1.60 Oaks favourite.
New Zealander Full Of Spirit is second pick at $5 ahead of Victorian filly Thy ($8) and Vinery Stud Stakes third placegetter Aliyana Tilde at $8.50.
The remaining four runners, including Streama’s stablemates Lightens and Colourist, are at double-figure odds.
