Daniel Moor could not have asked for a better 37th birthday present than riding Sierra Sue to victory in a Group 1 race at Caulfield.
After winning the opening race on Saturday’s program, Moor was moved to tears when Sierra Sue provided him with his first win at the highest level taking out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
Landing a knockout blow in the final stages, Sierra Sue ($11) got up to defeat Dice Roll ($21) by a short-head with the heavily-backed $4.20 favourite I’m Thunderstruck a half-length away third.
“I rode a Group 1 in Mauritius but it’s pretty easy to forget about those ones as it’s been a life’s work here,” Moor said.
“You watch people win good races and they get emotional, and you think ‘bloody hell they’re softies’ but it hit me a bit there.”
Sierra Sue is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young who pulled a masterstroke in late July by taking the mare the bush to land the Mildura Cup.
It sparked the mare into winning form with Sierra Sue landing the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes at her next outing before an unlucky effort when seventh to Superstorm in the Feehan Stakes.
Busuttin said if Sierra Sue had won the Feehan Stakes the mare would have taken a different path.
“If she won the Feehan she would have gone to the Underwood and I think she would have run well against Zaaki,” Busuttin said.
“The team, Trent Murphy, and everyone who rides the horse have done a fantastic job and it’s good to win another big Group 1 like this.”
Busuttin said the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington October 30 was the logical next Group 1 aim for Sierra Sue.
However, the $2 million The Invitational (1400m) in Sydney a week prior might also be an option.
“But I can’t get up there myself, so we might stay down here,” he said.
After Sierra Sue’s unlucky last start effort at The Valley, Moor was happy when he saw barrier 10 for the mare when fields were released.
“We weren’t going to be held up from that gate,” Moor said.
“It was a pretty good edition of the Rupert Clarke, they can be only just editions, but this year was strong.
“When the draw came out, I was happy. I saw Probabeel and Behemoth drew in and I knew they would need luck and with 52.5kg we could make our own luck and it panned out that way.”
