Swan Song for Tofane, Shout The Bar in All Aged Stakes

As racing prepares to bid farewell to Tofane and Shout The Bar in the April 16 All Aged Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse, two other star mares appear likely to continue at least into the spring.

Tofane, a four-time group 1 winner, all over 1400 meters and including the All Aged Stakes in 2020, will head to the breeding barn after today, with the 6-year-old sure to be among the top lots at next month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.

Five-year-old Shout The Bar, a dual elite-level winner who landed Moonee Valley's BMD Group Sunline Stakes (G2) at her latest start last month, is being offered at next month's Inglis Chairman's Sale as a breeding and racing prospect, but it's widely expected today will be her last start.

Shout The Bar was around the AU$23 mark in her odds despite her four-length win in the Sunline last start. The mare has won five of 17 starts and AU$1.34 (US$930,216) million for a syndicate headed by Francis Cook's Mystery Downs, but has had only two unplaced runs in heavy going, although she's won three from six in soft.

All Aged rival Sierra Sue, however, appears certain to race on, with co-trainer Natalie Young yesterday saying the 5-year-old dual group 1 winner could be headed to Brisbane and June's Stradbroke Handicap (G1), over the same distance as her two previous group 1 successes.

And trainer Matthew Smith is eyeing another shot at Flemington's Empire Rose Stakes (G1) in the spring for Nimalee. Smith last night said that the 5-year-old would be scratched from the All Aged, having broken through for her first elite-level victory April 9 in the Sydneys Queen Of The Turf A.T.C. Australian Oaks (G1).

Young said she and co-trainer Trent Busuttin would discuss Sierra Sue's future with owners, including Ozzie Khier and John O'Neill after the AU$600,000 ($443,268) race, with Sierra Sue in "top shape" and set to start unless Randwick is hit by any unforecast deluge before the event.

"On one hand, she's done her job. She's won two group 1s, and you can't get better than that," Young told ANZ Bloodstock News. "There's no point carrying on racing her on and busting her.

"She's definitely sound enough to have another spring campaign. But she'll be up in the weights now. If she tries to win the Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) again, which she won last year with 52.5 kilograms, she'll probably have an extra four kilos this time. So we've got to weigh up what's really available in the spring for her that makes it worth her going another year before going to the breeding barn."

Young said Sierra Sue—arguably the most under-rated dual group 1 winner in many years and at her usual odds of around AU$12 last night—was bristling and ready for the All Aged, her first run since finding the All-Star Mile slightly too long at Flemington on March 19, when finishing seventh behind Zaaki.

"I think 1,400 (meters) is really her go. There's a more genuine tempo, she can sit and relax, and get in her rhythm and storm over the top of them," said Young.

"She looks great, traveled up fine, and arrived on Friday morning. She's dappled all over—over her stomach, all over her back. We wouldn't want a Heavy 10—but she gets through the soft alright."

Smith told ANZ last night he intended to scratch Nimalee on race morning. While the All Aged had appeared a logical step following last Saturday's stirring 2 1/4-length victory over 1,600 meters, Smith said the fact she'd had a tough run on a Heavy 10 in that event had helped convince he and owners Lester and Margaret Durney to preserve the mare for the spring.

"She ran super to win last Saturday. She came through it in good order and has done well this week, but we've decided to scratch her (from the All Aged). She had a hard run last week, she drew a bad barrier for the All Aged, and we don't need to run her really. We've got the group 1 under the belt."

The Mike Moroney-trained Tofane—whose half brother Benaud ran a superb second to Hitotsu in the April 2 ATC Derby (G1)—heads into her swan song Saturday as a regal broodmare prospect, winner of eight of her 29 starts and AU$3.57 ($2,586,213) million in prize-money.

Mo'unga, who runs for his new ownership group today after being purchased as a stallion prospect by Newhaven Park Stud this week, has not started since splitting Sierra Sue and Tofane in the Feb. 26 Futurity Stakes (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse.