From a bargain basement $2,000 purchase at a mixed sale to a Group 1 winning millionairess, Sierra Sue scaled the heights in Saturday’s $1million Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
A tragedy beaten in the Group II Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley at her most recent start, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young Sierra Sue finally had the rub of the green.
Providing a first win at the highest level for Daniel Moor, Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma) did best in a driving finish to defeat the Nick Ryan-trained Dice Roll (FR) (Showcasing) by a short-head with I'm Thunderstruck (Shocking) a length back in third.
A Group 1 kiss for Sierra Sue
“That’s fantastic for Daniel. A first Group 1 on his birthday,” Busuttin said.
“He doesn’t say much, he’s a pretty quiet guy but that says it all. A good birthday present and I’m sure his family are rapt at home.
“They find a length or two in those colours. The team behind them are massive behind our stables.
“It shows last week that we were unlucky. If she gets a break then she wins the Feehan. She carries a couple more kilos and probably doesn’t win the race.”
The winner of the Group II Blazer Stakes at Flemington last October, and the Group II P.B. Lawrence Stakes in august, Sierra Sue advances he record to eight wins and a second from 18 starts with earnings of $1,123,625.
That is a handy return on the $2,000 it cost to secure Sierra Sue, who had been broken in when offered by Ardsley Stud at the 2019 Karaka May sale.
Now owned by some of the stables high profile clients, Sierra Sue is the best of five winners from six to race out of the Centaine mare Centree.
Centree is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Miss Puzzle the dam of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes winner Fashion Plate.
After not being covered in 2018 and 2019 the 18yo Centree visited Mongolian Khan last spring.
Sierra Sue becomes the 12th Group 1 winner for The Oaks Stud's royally bred Danehill stallion Darci Brahma who stands at a fee of $15,000 (+GST) in 2021.
-Mark Smith, Breednet
