Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

UNBEATEN THE REAL STREAM stayed on course for a $1-million bonus at Caymanas Park yesterday with an emphatic victory in the Pick 3 Super Challenge Trophy over 1400 metres, Race No. 2 in the $9.5 million Supreme Ventures 2-Y-O Series.

The Triple Crown series for two-year-olds concludes on Boxing Day with the $3 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres and victory for THE REAL STREAM will see his owner, David Crawford, walk away with $1 million, donated by SVL.

Having won the first race in the series, the $2 million Cash Pot Only One For Me Trophy over 1200 metres on October 13, THE REAL STREAM, with visiting champion jockey Brian Harding again in the saddle, was installed a 4-5 favourite to follow up and duly obliged in effortless fashion.

Trained by returning champion Wayne DaCosta, THE REAL STREAM was held just off the early pace in fourth as THE QUEEN (5-1) led narrowly from THUNDERSTORM (12-1) and the previously unbeaten HOMBRE (6-5) in a field of seven.

HOMBRE was sent through by leading jockey Omar Walker at the halfway stage, only to be blown away by THE REAL STREAM from early in the straight.

Distance to spare

At the line, THE REAL STREAM had 5 1/2 lengths to spare over the Noel Ennevor-trained HOMBRE, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:251. behind splits of 23.1, 46.0 and 1:11.1 for the first 1200 metres. Bred by Orange Valley Estates Limited, THE REAL STREAM, a roan gelding by He'stherealthing out of the Al's River Cat mare Jet Stream, is unbeaten in three starts and will now be prepared for his big Boxing Day assignment.

An hour or so prior to the race, Crawford proclaimed: "no horse can beat him today", but many-time champion trainer DaCosta paid his charge an even bigger compliment.

"He's definitely a class horse ... possibly the best horse I have trained since the 1996 Triple Crown winner and Horse of The Year, War Zone," said the in-form trainer who went on to disclose that THE REAL STREAM had suffered a setback in his preparation after winning his last race, having been stung by a fortyleg in three places.

Meanwhile, top jockeys Omar Walker (81 wins) and Trevor Simpson (68) both failed to ride a winner on the 11-race programme. Walker starts a two-day suspension on Wednesday for careless riding.