Trainers Trent Bussutin and Natalie Young will keep New Zealand-bred mare Sierra Sue to her favoured 1400m distance this preparation.
The daughter of Darci Brahma broke through for her maiden Group One victory when winning the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last September and her trainers are wanting more of the same from their mare.
“For whatever reason her record says she’s a 1400m horse, there are two Group One, 1400m races coming up in the month of February,” Bussutin said.
“Her record shows 1400m is her optimum distance.”
Sierra Sue impressed in a Cranbourne trial on Monday morning, after the best part of three months off.
“I’m very happy with her, it was a fairly firm track as most trials usually are at Cranbourne,” Busuttin said.
“She’s fantastic, nice and strong, she’s come through it good.
“She’ll trial up at the start of February over 1000m, and then she’ll go into the Orr Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m) first-up.
“She’s a Group One winner and it’s a logical race for her.”
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.
Stablemate and fellow Kiwi-bred Forgot You, who also races for a syndicate headed by Kheir, was another to step out over 850m after winning the Gr.2 Vase (2040m) at The Valley last preparation before finishing fifth in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).
“He had five weeks off in the paddock, he’s come out nicely,” Busuttin said.
“He’ll start in the C.S. Hayes Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m), beforehand he’ll trial up over 1000m and he’ll trial with the blinkers.
“We’re going to try and get him into the Australian Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) second-up, a bit sharper with a set of shades on.
“While he didn’t go a bad race in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), I think he was fourth-up over a mile and he was clearly looking for further, so I’ll try and keep him as sharp as possible.”
Bred by Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, Forgot You is out of the winning O’Reilly mare Simply You (NZ), a three-quarter sister to stakes-winners Escadaire (NZ) (O’Reilly), Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Group Two winner Rare Insight (NZ) (O’Reilly), dam of Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer).
Simply You is a daughter of multiple Group One winner Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale of the Cat).
Forgot You was purchased by Bussutin Racing for A$330,000 as a two-year-old after being prepared by Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud.
