Streisand, the Southern Hemisphere 2-year-old filly, has already won a seven-figure race in Australia this year, in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Feb. 21.
The manner of her victory in that six-furlong race, stalking the pace and winning by three-quarters of a length, has pushed Streisand to the fore of contenders in Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney.
This time, the prize money is even greater. The Blue Diamond was worth $1.42 million, while the Golden Slipper is worth $3.53 million, the world’s richest race for juveniles.
Despite her recent win in a lucrative race, Streisand is far from the preeminent runner in the Golden Slipper, which drew 20, but will be limited to 16 starters.
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The colts Closer to Free, Guest House, and Warwoven and filly Chayan were all single-digit odds in early betting on Wednesday. Chayan was the 5-1 favorite, while Streisand was 7-1, a slight choice over 8-1 Warwoven.
Closer to Free and Guest House, both 9-1 on Wednesday, were second and third in the Blue Diamond. Guest House was beaten a length despite racing in traffic. In the Blue Diamond, Guest House starts from post 10 and will be ridden for the first time by Zac Lloyd, one of the leading riders at Sydney-area tracks.
Chayan finished behind Streisand in her first two starts, including a seventh in the Blue Diamond, and won for the third time in her third race, the Group 2 Reisling Stakes at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on March 7.
Chayan, who races as a closer, starts from post 12 in the Golden Slipper, one position to the outside of Streisand.
The draw was not as kind to Warwoven, who starts from post 14. Warwoven, who typically races from a stalking position, has won 3 of 4 starts, including an all-important win at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes on March 14.
The Golden Slipper Stakes has a post time of 1:35 a.m. Eastern on Saturday or 10:35 p.m. Pacific on Friday.
Autumn Glow eyes another win
Autumn Glow, unbeaten in 10 starts, will be a massive favorite to win her third Group 1 race in the $707,000 George Ryder Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs in the race prior to the Golden Slipper.
A 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere filly, Autumn Glow has been compared to Winx, the four-time Australian Horse of the Year in the late 2010s who won 25 Group 1 races. Winx won the George Ryder four times, from 2016 to 2019, in her Horse of the Year seasons.
Autumn Glow, who tends to run from off the pace, won the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at a mile at Randwick on Feb. 18 in her second start of the year.
In the George Ryder, Autumn Glow is part of a field of 12.
Earlier on the Rosehill Gardens program, the 4-year-old filly Aeliana will be an odds-on favorite in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles. Aeliana was second to Autumn Glow in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Feb. 14 and second in the Verry Elleegant Stakes.
The $707,000 Ranvet Stakes drew a field of six, including Sir Delius, a two-time Group 1 winner last September and October who was third by 3 3/4 lengths in the Verry Elleegant Stakes.
Chris Waller trains Aeliana and Autumn Glow as well as the 3-year-old Autumn Boy who will be favored in Saturday’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas at 1 1/4 miles. Autumn Glow and Autumn Boy are by the Redoute’s Choice stallion The Autumn Sun.
Autumn Boy has won 3 of 7 starts, and was third and second in his first two starts this year in group races at seven furlongs and a mile. The $530,200 Rosehill Guineas is Autumn Boy’s first start at 1 1/4 miles.
In the day’s final Group 1 race, the 3-year-old Grafterburners, winner of his last four, will be favored in the $707,000 Galaxy Stakes, a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Grafterburners, winner of the $2 million Sunlight Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Gold Coast Racecourse in January, will carry 111.3 pounds against 13 rivals.
Briasa, fourth in the 2025 Galaxy Stakes and a three-time graded stakes winner, is the 129-pound highweight. Grafterburners was 7-2 in early betting on Wednesday, while Briasa was 5-1.
The Galaxy Stakes is the first start for Briasa since he finished ninth in the $1.96 million Russell Balding Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Nov. 1.
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