Star jockey Ben Melham has revealed the factors behind the ‘tough’ decision when it came time to choose his Blue Diamond ride, with politics playing a part.
The 22 time Group 1 winner had ridden both $4 race favourite Big Sky and $7.50 chance Streisand, who is currently third favourite in the Bet365 market.
Melham said he ‘’did my head in’’ over the choice, made harder by the loyalties he has to both trainers.
He has ridden extensively for Mick Price, who trains Big Sky, and Melham’s close friend Clinton McDonald, who trains Streisand.
‘’It was a difficult decision, but obviously, they were two horses that I’d sort of identified a little while ago that I thought would be probably main contenders to get to a Blue Diamond,’’ he told SEN Track.
‘’And I’ve obviously had a bit to do with both of them in their lead-ups and their preps, sort of, so far.”
‘’Big Sky’s been … obviously really impressive at his two starts. I wasn’t able to ride him his first-up run and then he was impressive the other day at Caulfield and Streisand … had one trial leading into her first run and ran well.”
‘’She sort of went back from an awkward draw and she improved out of that. But there was more to it than just what the better ride was obviously, they’re two stables that I get a lot of support from both of them.”
”I do majority of Clinton’s riding and ride a lot for Mick. So, to be honest, I did my head in over it for a little bit and it came down to politics more than anything.’’
Streisand takes the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (F). pic.twitter.com/ZqATgIPogA
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Melham said he was impressed with Streisand at Caulfield on Saturday after winning the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude with his wife, Jamie, onboard.
He told SEN Track that while she still seemed to have improvement left in her, Streisand would be suited by the likely pace over the 1200m.
‘’The 1200m tempo of a Blue Diamond will suit her. She’s quite an adaptable filly. If you don’t send her a message from the barriers, she’ll come back and relax for you and give a better turn of foot, I feel.’’
Despite passing on Big Sky, Melham conceded the colt has ‘’X factor’’.
‘’He frightens the hell out of me, to be honest. In saying that, it’s going to be a different sort of set of circumstances for him. He’s going to have a big field, which he hasn’t seen before and probably more pressure than what he’s had,” he said.
