Clinton McDonald has once again proven his mastery with juveniles, as the seasoned Streisand utilised her extensive race experience to outmuscle the colts in a dominant 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes display at Caulfield.

2026 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand was too strong late beating home the boys in the Caulfield Group 1. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Despite entering the $2 million Group 1 feature on the back of a victory in the Fillies Prelude, bookmakers and punters largely overlooked the daughter of Magnus.

However, under a tactical masterpiece from jockey Ben Melham, the progressive filly took her game to a new level at her fifth career outing, saluting at double-figure odds in the 1200m classic.

“What a filly. The blinkers were used, she floated, but you try things and it worked,” an elated Clinton McDonald told Racing.com while celebrating with a jubilant ownership group.

“To all my staff, my trackwork riders, fantastic.

“She did it the tough way and I thought she was really strong all the way to the line.

“I just thought she was the most seasoned horse in the race, her fifth start, the way she walked around the mounting yard it was like she’s done it her whole life, and she raced that way.

“It’s just terrific, look out tonight!”

The victory marks McDonald’s second Blue Diamond trophy in three years, mirroring the path of his 2024 winner, Hayasugi. Much like Streisand, Hayasugi was a market outsider at $16 when she completed the rare Preview-Prelude-Diamond treble.

“Very similar to Hayasugi, very understated, just won by a head and everyone wrote her off in the Diamond, I think she started $18, same with this filly, she’s had four starts, got beaten a short half head in two of them, unlucky when she ran fifth and then she won her fourth start, so I thought ‘have I got this wrong, I think she’s going alright this filly,” McDonald reflected.

“She’s had a solid preparation; she’s just come here and she’s tough and that’s what you need to win these races.”

Starting from the tricky barrier 10, Melham maneuvered Streisand into a perfect stalking position, sitting third as they turned for home.

As the leader, Lady Moscato, began to tire, a fierce duel erupted between Streisand ($11) and the Danny O’Brien-trained colt Closer To Free.

While Closer To Free appeared to have the upper hand momentarily after a strong kick, Streisand showed incredible resolve, surging in the final strides to secure a three-quarter length victory.

“It was a long-range plan with this filly. She showed exceptional ability from day dot,” Ben Melham said.

“She’s just had a faultless start to her career, two lovely runs before Christmas, she went out, had time to have a little break.

“She’s come back and she’d just furnished every day.

“Developed and obviously, that’s what you want to see from these two-year-olds, she’s a ready-made racehorse.

“Clinton and the team have done a great job.”

Melham noted that the first-time addition of blinkers was key to her focus.

“She’s a cranky little thing on the ground, but lovely to ride race day,” he added.

“Blinkers first time today, we always thought she’d improve with them on.

“She was a little bit sleepy going to the start, and I gave her a bit of a squeeze and then she picked up and I lit her up in the barriers a bit just to make sure she jumped because she went to sleep on me again.

“Obviously, a lot of the speed didn’t jump, and we didn’t end up going that quick.

“I was just in a position where I could control the race and she did the rest.”

The Price/Kent Jnr-trained Guest House overcame a difficult run to grab third, finishing a length adrift of the winner to fill the trifecta.

Streisand is now expected to cross the border for the $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on March 21.

Following her Caulfield heroics, her all-in odds at Ladbrokes have been slashed from $51 into $15, as she looks to become the first horse since Sepoy (2011) to complete the Diamond-Slipper double.

2026 Blue Diamond Stakes Results

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