Streama At Right Trip In George Ryder Stakes

Trainer Guy Walter is expecting Streama to run a big race when she steps-up to 1500 metres for the 2014 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Streama will face stablemate Toydini in the 2014 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

Streama will face stablemate Toydini in the 2014 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Streama started her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a fifth place finish in the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 15 and was only fair when sixth in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), but Walter is expecting an improved effort over a more suitable trip this weekend.

“I think that she is almost there,” Walter told Racing Ahead this morning.

“You will get a much better idea of her up to 1500.

“These days she needs to be ridden with a bit of aggression from the gates and put there when she is up to her right distance, which she is on Saturday.

“I would be thinking that she can run well.

“She has run a lot of good races at Rosehill, which is very much a leaders track.

“I am hopeful that she can run a big race on Saturday and put the writing on the wall for the Doncaster.”

Walter’s star mare Appearance was withdrawn from the George Ryder Stakes and has been retired after she suffered a near fore ligament injury, but the veteran trainer will still have two runners in the Group 1 event; with Toydini to be included in the final acceptances.

Toydini returned to the races with an eighth place finish in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22 and worked home strongly to finish fifth in the Canterbury Stakes.

“He is a big strong fellow and each run will improve him,” Walter said.

“I thought it was a great run in the Canterbury Stakes.”

Walter is expecting both Streama and Toydini to perform strongly in the George Ryder Stakes this weekend, but believes that Streama may be his best winning chance in the Group 1 event because of her ability to take a forward position early in the race.

“She is probably more suited to Rosehill then he is and he is probably a horse that needs to be ridden a little quieter out of the gates,” Walter said.

“With Streama she can be brilliant out of the gates and I think she will be suited to the 1500 metres around Rosehill.”

Walter is chasing his second win in the George Ryder Stakes after winning the 2005 edition of the race with Court’s In Session.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.