Sierra Sue will receive a wildcard invitation into the All-Star Mile after registering a second Group 1 at Caulfield.
Victory in the Futurity Stakes on Saturday was one of two races designated as ‘win and you’re in’ to the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 19.
Sierra Sue was entered for the All-Star Mile but was not amongst the 10 horses in the ‘fan-vote’ earlier in the month and had two chances of securing a start in the race by either winning Saturday’s weight-for-age contest or taking out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington next week.
The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young -trained mare relished the 1400m journey with Saturday’s victory complimenting wins in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Ridden by John Allen, Sierra Sue ($14) scored by 1-¼ lengths from Mo’unga ($4.40) with the $2.30 favourite Tofane three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Young said the team would assess the mare before committing to a start in the All-Star Mile.
“I think she is better at the 1400 metres, she’s a lot more effective, but she has won over 1700 metres in lower grade, so you just never know,” Young said.
“She’s won at Flemington in a Group 2 and she does love Flemington, so do you weigh it up or go to a Sangster in Adelaide and you freshen her up.
“We won’t make the decision on race day, but we’ll enjoy the fact we’ve got another Group 1.”
Allen said the race could not have worked out any better knowing he was on a fitter horse than the one that stepped out in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 12.
“I was pretty confident riding her here two weeks ago thinking she was going to be in with a big show, and she might have just needed that run a little bit,” Allen said.
“To be fair to Natalie and Trent, they had her spot on for today and they were very confident she would be hard to beat.”
Allen said there was no reason why Sierra Sue should not be up for a tilt at the All-Star Mile.
“She’s in form, she’s won over the mile around Flemington before, so there’s no reason not to go there with the big prizemoney on offer and she’d be in with a big shout,” Allen said.