Clinton McDonald might end up with the two-year-old of the year and money in his pocket from Streisand, but he will still be unfulfilled.
The Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper runner-up is favourite for the Sires’ Produce Stakes and was sold to Yulong this week for a figure reportedly north of $5 million, but McDonald is still brooding over the Slipper defeat.
“It is the race every trainer in Australia wants to win, and when you get so close, you want it even more,” McDonald said.
“She has changed some of the owners’ lives, this filly. Some of them are going to be able to buy houses.”
“I can tell you it wasn’t unanimous to sell her, but the majority rules in those situations.”
“I’m happy she is going to stay with me, but to tell you the truth, all I wanted from her was the Golden Slipper, so that hurts.”
“The rest is a bonus and there is more to come.”
Streisand was brave in the Golden Slipper, racing on speed before being gunned down late by Guest House, after winning the Blue Diamond, which McDonald had won two years earlier with Hayasugi.
“I thought I was a good chance with Hayasugi, but this girl [Streisand] got us so close,” McDonald said.
“Now I just want to find that horse to win the Slipper, and it is why we got the $1.8 million Zoustar colt at Easter.”
“We are looking to buy the horse that will win the Golden Slipper.”
That is the future. McDonald’s focus this week is getting another Group 1 with his star filly, now in Yulong colours.
Streisand has had an old-fashioned preparation, with two photo-finish seconds in the spring before charging into fifth in the fillies’ Blue Diamond Preview, then winning the Prelude.
“The day we rode her back [in the Preview], she had the fastest closing sections of the day, and I think she is better with a sit,” McDonald said.
“We have been using her speed, but I think with a sit she might even be better.”
“She has come through the Golden Slipper extremely well, and she just continues to please us.”
“Benny [Melham] came up to Sydney on Tuesday to work her, and he couldn’t have been happier.”
“She has a good base, and I think she will run the 1400m out, and with a sit, she could be dynamic.”
