Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young believe Group One winner Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is firing on all cylinders ahead of her first-up assignment at Caulfield on February 12, the Gr.1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m).
The New Zealand-bred mare pleased her conditioners with her jumpout win over 1000m at Cranbourne on Tuesday, beating compatriot and fellow Group One winner I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking).
“She had a bit of a blow this morning, but John Allen (jockey) gave her a nice test out to the line and she responded really well,” Young told SENTrack.
“That was her second (jumpout), she had another one a fortnight ago over 800m where she coasted to the line nicely.
“Today she had that better hit-out heading into next Saturday in the Orr Stakes.”
The daughter of Darci Brahma had a lucrative preparation last spring, winning the Mildura Cup (1400m), Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), and Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
“She had a great preparation last time,” Young said. “Coming off a Mildura Cup win and before then the fourth at Flemington she was almost going to go to the paddock.
“It was great to turn her form around and she spelled really well, and she has come back probably bigger and stronger than ever.
“We are hoping for another really good preparation with her.”
Young said they plan to have Sierra Sue at peak fitness ahead of next Saturday where they hope she can add to her Group One haul.
“We are just going to try and have her a little more cranked up going into that first Group One,” she said.
“Usually it is a lead-up for a lot of other horses where we want to make sure that she is ready to roll first-up.
“She did have a pretty good blow, so we will still have to give her two or three good gallops ahead of next Saturday just to get her right back on her toes.”
A trial winner in New Zealand for trainer Peter Lock, Sierra Sue was purchased privately by a prominent group of Australian owners, headed by developer, hotelier and horseracing identity Aziz “Ozzie” Kheir through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. There are 10 yearlings catalogued by Sierra Sue’s sire Darci Brahma in next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, which commence on March 7.
