Dustin Martin cut a jubilant figure at Caulfield on Sunday.
The typically camera-shy former AFL star couldn’t hold back his emotions as two-year-old filly, Streisand – named after the Oscar-winning actress, Barbra – crossed the finish line to win the Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes.
Martin jumped up into the air before sharing a big hug with Streisand’s trainer Clinton McDonald.
It was an epic moment with Ben Melham guiding Streisand past his wife and Melbourne Cup winner, Jamie, to seal victory aboard Streisand.
Jamie, who was on board Guest House, placed third.
The victory saw Streisand’s ownership group bank a whopping $1.2million, with another former AFL player, Michael Gardiner, owning a stake in that consortium.
Richmond Tigers legend Dustin Martin (centre) celebrated at Caulfield on Saturday as Streisand won the Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes
Ben Melham (pictured) also beat his wife and Melbourne Cup winner Jamie Melham to claim victory
Former St Kilda player Michael Gardiner (right, with Melham, left) is one of Streisand’s co-owners and had invited Martin along to watch the race
Gardiner, who played for West Coast and St Kilda between 1997 and 2011, is one of Martin’s closest friends and had invited the three-time premiership winner along to watch the race.
Martin is also understood to be the godfather of one of Gardiner’s children.
Speaking to The Age, Gardiner said: ‘It’s unlike Dustin to come out with a big crowd.
‘He must have sensed something.’
Ironically, Melham had been dressed in yellow and black colours for the race, the colours Martin so often kicked goals in when he was playing for the Tigers.
‘He [Martin] senses the big occasions, that bloke,’ Gardiner added.
‘So maybe it was a good omen that he was coming along today.
‘Yellow and black colours, too.’
Martin appeared to be a good luck charm for the owners, with the footy great seen also hugging trainer Clinton McDonald after the race
The victory was Ben Melham’s first Blue Diamond victory. Streisand, meanwhile, had claimed victory here earlier in February at the Grade Two Sportsbet Diamond Prelude
Gardiner, who played in the Saints’ 2009 and 2010 Grand Final teams, revealed that horse racing ran in his blood, with his grandfather having ‘raced horses for many years’.
‘I always tell the boys to put the horses in the colours, because they’re group 1-winning colours,’ Gardiner said.
‘So, you know, it’s extra special for the family to see the colours with another group 1.’
Streisand has been in prime form over the past month, claiming back-to-back wins at Caulfield, notably winning the Grade Two Sportsbet Diamond Prelude on February 7.
Jamie Melham had ridden the filly during that race to victory over Annabel and Rob Archibald’s Chayan.
On Saturday, the Melbourne Cup winner chose to ride the Mick Price and Michal Kent Jnr-trained colt Guest House, but was unable to beat her husband, Ben.
It was Ben’s first Diamond Stakes triumph.
‘We thought she’d win the other day, Jamie gave her a lovely ride,’ Ben said, reflecting on Streisand’s victory at Caulfield last month.
It comes after McDonald (right) had revealed that he had broken his ribs and had spent five days in the ICU after falling at the Melbourne Cup
Martin, meanwhile, is eyeing a return to the footy field and could join up with the Yarrawonga Pigeons to play in the Ovens and Murray League in 2026
‘Anyway, if I can’t ride them, I’m happy to see her riding them and vice versa, so just great to get a group 1 winner for Clinton. We work well as a team and the loyal owners.’
Streisand’s trainer, McDonald, also thanked Martin for coming to support.
He added that the past 12 months had been particularly difficult, following the passing of his mother.
The trainer had also fallen ill after a fall at last year’s Melbourne Cup.
McDonald had tripped down a set of steps during the carnival and broke multiple ribs. He punctured his lung in the process.
He later spent five days in the ICU and was diagnosed with early-onset emphysema.
Martin, meanwhile, is eyeing a return to the footy field and could join up with the Yarrawonga Pigeons to play in the Ovens and Murray League in 2026.
The Tigers great is likely to play six home games for the Pigeons.
He was recently seen back in training over the summer, enjoying a kick-about with Collingwood legend Dane Swan.
The 2017 Brownlow Medallist enjoyed a glittering career in the AFL, with Martin returning 338 goals across 302 games for the Tigers, before hanging up his boots in 2024.
