Doomben Cup Triumph for Streama

Outstanding Stratum mare Streama has been competing against the best for most of her racing career and at age five added a fourth Group I victory to her resume when capturing the $500,000 BRC Doomben Cup on Saturday.

Prepared by Guy Walter, Streama burst back to top form last start in the Group II Hollindale Cup at the Gold Coast and was sent out favourite for this 2000 metre weight-for-age contest.

Ridden a perfect race by Blake Shinn to travel sweetly in third place, Streama surged to the line to run down Leebaz and win by three parts of a length.

“I can’t tell you how special this is,” said Blake Shinn.

“She’s been around for a long time, been a favourite in Guy’s stable for a number of years.

“He elected to resurrect her career up here in Brisbane and to get another Group I against her name is very special.”

Streama has the overall record of 10 wins and 13 placings from 34 starts with prizemoney topping $2.6 million, the Doomben Cup adding to earlier Group I wins in the ATC George Main Stakes, Australian Oaks and Flight Stakes.

“I couldn’t pre-empt the owners (regarding her retirement) but she’s been a wonderful mare,” Guy Walter said.

“It must be close to the end of her career. She’s a rising six-year-old mare.

“She’s had a lot of big moments but it’s hard to top today.She’s beaten fillies like Sea Siren at level weights, won an Oaks and now come out and won a Doomben Cup.

“I can’t speak highly enough of her. I haven’t had many better than her.”

Retained to race by her breeder Geoffrey Coghlan and his family, Streama is the best of seven winners from Sovereign Red mare Pensiamo, who died in 2011.

Pensiamo is a half-sister to the grand-dam of another top class stakes horse in Decision Time, who has won over $1.5 million in prizemoney.

Streama is one of 22 stakes-winners by Golden Slipper winner Stratum, who stands this spring at Widden Stud at a fee of $38,500.