Sierra Sue (Image: Racing Photos)
Sierra Sue is on track to resume in the $500,000 Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday after a foot abscess ruled her out of contention for last weekend's Memsie Stakes.
"It burst out over the weekend," revealed co-trainer Natalie Young, who trains in partnership with Trent Busuttin.
"She is definitely on the mend and she has only missed one gallop last week.
"She cantered yesterday and will gallop tomorrow.
"She hasn't been to The Valley before and there is a fair bit of rain forecast, so it could be a wet track.
"But I'd reckon she would run because we are looking at the Rupert Clarke."
Sierra Sue was set to run over 1400 metres last weekend, a distance which saw her back into winning form in the Mildura Cup and P.B. Lawrence Stakes, while Saturday's contest at The Valley will be over 1600m.
"She had been to the mile and then we dropped back to the 14000 metres, so the extra 200 metres I don't see as an issue," Young said.
"I think she is at her best over 1400 metres, however, but she won over 1700 metres as a younger horse.
"I just find the 1400 metres they go that little bit faster and it allows her to get over the top of them."
Sierra Sue is nominated for the Cox Plate and Saturday's winner will receive ballot exemption into that race.
The Cranbourne-based stable is set to represented by a number of runners on Saturday, including Commands The Field, who will be looking to bounce back in the $160,000 Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes.
"She has come through that Bendigo run well," Young said of her fourth placing.
"She got into a bit of carnage and checked when she had to be rolling in that small field.
"But she has galloped well this week and will take her place."
Having scratched Exceed Expect from the McNeil Stakes last week, Young said the stable opted for the softer option in the 1200-metre handicap with the colt, who has won two of his three starts. She said he will not be hampered by rain-affected ground.
Coming out of the fourth-fastest run 2040-metre race at The Valley since 2007, including three of Winx's Cox Plates, Salsamor pleased connections finishing fifth off the brutal tempo behind Pancho and will return for the same contest on Saturday.
The Busuttin-Young team also has three likely candidates for the three-year-old contest over 1500m. Forgot You is set to have the cross over noseband applied after a pleasing return at Flemington, while debut winner Benczkowski and the improving Shadow Hawk are also expected to take their places.