The Doomben Cup may or may not be Streama’s last race but if it is, trainer Guy Walter has her primed to go out a winner.
Since the beginning of her latest campaign, Walter and her owners have been flagging it as likely to be her last with her future in the broodmare barn assured as a triple Group One winner.
And Walter sees no reason why she can’t increase that to four when she steps up to 2000 metres on Saturday following a sparkling return to the winner’s circle in the Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast.
Streama - Blake Shinn
Walter kept faith when the mare was unplaced in her first four autumn starts and drew encouragement from her closing fourth in the Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m).
Streama reproduced her customary finishing sprint to chase down Mr O’Ceirin in the Group Two Hollindale (1800m) and move to the top of Doomben Cup markets.
She has since been displaced by Leebaz following confirmation from the Hawkes stable the gelding would make the trip to Brisbane.
“She has come through the Hollindale in really good order,” Walter said.
“I went up to Brisbane to watch her work on Saturday morning and was very pleased.
“She will have a gallop on the course proper on Tuesday to top her off for the race.
“I think she is ready for the 2000 metres.”
Rival trainer Gerald Ryan will delay a decision on a Doomben Cup start for Angel Of Mercy until after she works on Tuesday.
Ryan was one of three trainers who missed the cut-off for Cup acceptances last week and has to pay a late fee of more than $11,000 to put her in the race.
“We will wait until we see how she is after she works in the morning,” he said.
“If she works well then we will pay up.”
The race may also be the last for Angel Of Mercy who is catalogued for public auction later this month.
