Trainer Guy Walter admits that Streama may be past her best, but believes that the triple Group 1 winner is a live chance in the 2014 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast this weekend.
Streama is chasing her first race win since she took out the George Main Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Streama did not score a race win during her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, but bounced back from a poor showing in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 to finish a close fourth in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at the same venue a week later.
Walter said that he has been happy with the form of Streama this preparation and told Sky Racing HQ that he is heading into the 2014 Hollindale Stakes this weekend with a degree of confidence.
“She has been in great shape up there, she settled in really well and I couldn’t be happier with her really,” Walter said.
“I’ve been happy with her runs except for the Doncaster where things that just didn’t go her way.
“She stepped away a little slowly and Hughie persisted going forward and he felt afterwards that he had made a mistake and it was a very heavy track.
“Her next run was quiet good; she was ridden back and came home well.
“She has won an Oaks and she ran second to Mosheen in the Vinery Stud at Rosehill so I don’t think that the 1800 holds any fears for her.
“Even if she is not quite the mare that she was, she is still a formidable opponent I would say.
“She is a high class mare and she is probably more suited to weight-for-age at this stage of her career.
“I think that she is a live hope for sure.”
The Gold Coast track is currently rated as a slow seven, after South East Queensland was hit by a large storm last night, and Walter said that he hopes the surface is not downgraded before the running of the Hollindale Stakes.
Streama has previously recording wins on rain affected tracks in both the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m), but Walter believes that the daughter of Stratum is at her best on a firm track.
“I think that the barrier is a huge help; she has drawn a lot of wide gates in her career and a couple recently, which doesn’t help,” Walter said.
“I am a little bit concerned about the track and I don’t want it to deteriorate; I think that she is a better mare on top of the ground.
“The better the track the more hope for her I would say.”
Streama is currently available at 2014 Hollindale Stakes odds of $4.60; with Chris Waller-trained Junoob still a clear favourite at a quote of $2.50.
