SMART mare Sierra Sue proved she was the class runner in the $100,000 Mildura Cup after a barnstorming victory in the feature event at Sandilong Park yesterday.
Sierra Sue settled at the rear of the field during the race, while her main rivals More Than Exceed found the leading position and SA visitor Street Tough settled just worse than midfield.
There was plenty of speed on during the race and it suited Sierra Sue, who was sent forward wide on the track by jockey John Allen rounding the home bend and she then outsprinted Street Tough and More Than Exceed in the straight to record an impressive 2.25-length win.
Sierra Sue has contested group and listed races throughout her career and was deserving of winning another feature race.
The mare is trained at Cranbourne by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and campaigned in Queensland during May and June in group class races so she was suited in the country cup event yesterday.
“She hadn’t been far away in better races in Queensland so we were fairly confident she would run well in the cup,” stable representative Trent Murphy said.
“She may have needed the run at Flemington last Saturday to top her off for the (Mildura) Cup and it is a good result for the team.”
Winning jockey John Allen had his first ride in a Mildura Cup and was excited to win the city’s feature event.
“She travelled nicely at the rear of the field and then travelled into it well when I made my move and she was the class horse in the race. It is nice to get the win in the Mildura Cup,” he said.
Street Tough continued his consistent form since transferring from Tasmania to the Will Clarken stable at Morphettville in SA and also ran well to finish second.
More Than Exceed was defending his Mildura Cup title after a smart win in the event last year and he also battled on strongly to run third after working in the early stages to take up the front running. It may pay to follow him in his coming starts as he appears ready now to return to winning form.
Training honours for the meeting went to the Paul Preusker stable at Horsham with a winning double after Hot Suspect recorded a smart win in the opening event and Hangyourhat achieved his first victory in only his second start.
Jockey Dean Holland also made the long trek to Mildura worthwhile after riding Hangyourhat to victory as well as Colsridge who was an impressive winner of the second race for Bendigo trainer Arthur Pace.
