Sierra Sue retired

Dual Group One winner Sierra Sue has been retired.

Sierra Sue was purchased out of Ardsley Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale draft for $2,000 by Peter Lock.

She had two trials for the Te Aroha trainer before she was purchased privately by a prominent group of Australian owners, headed by developer, hotelier and horseracing identity Ozzie Kheir through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.

She entered the stable of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for whom she won nine of her 24 starts, including the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

She was set to race through the Queensland Winter Carnival, however, the pin was pulled on her campaign following illness.

“It was always the plan to finish up at the end of this season. She basically had a bit of travel sickness,” Busuttin told Bensley.

“She is back to normal but the Stradbroke (Gr.1, 1400m) is just around the corner and you have got to be absolutely on your A-game for any Group One race. She just wasn’t able to present at her best.

“She doesn’t owe us anything, she has been great and will head to the broodmare paddock.

“Group One winners are hard to find and hard to replace, so it will be a shame to see her walk out of the stable but she certainly doesn’t owe us anything.”

Change of tactics with Gin Martini

Trainer John Sargent is changing his tactics with Kiwi-bred filly Gin Martini ahead of the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter has been ridden positively and finished fourth in her subsequent starts in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) and Gr.2 The Roses (2100m).

Sargent is looking for that Classic win and he believes a change in tactics could prove the difference.

“We are probably going to ride her a bit colder to see if she can finish it off. She has been left a sitting duck on the turn and has been caught by a couple,” Sargent told RacingHQ.

“Robbie (Dolan) will ride her again and I would like her to sit behind the first wave. We will change the tactics with her and we might get another length or two to maybe win an Oaks.”

Gin Martini was purchased by Tricolours Racing & Syndications out of Landsdowne Park’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $40,000.