Kiwi master trainer testing Aussie waters with last-start Group 1 winner
The Group 3 JRA Plate might seem a modest one-off Aussie target for a last-start Group 1 winner, but Roger James sees multiple reasons why it is a good option for She’s A Dealer.
The daughter of Ace High will put a full stop on her campaign in the $250,000 event at Randwick.
The four-year-old won the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at her most recent appearance, on March 28, and James said the 2000-metre event was the most suitable option for her at this stage of the campaign.
“She’s done well this campaign and she’s crying out to go 2000 metres,” James said.
“There was an option here (New Zealand), but we thought the Australian Black Type had more of an appeal and the timing was right, so here she is.”
The JRA Plate will be She’s A Dealer’s seventh run of a campaign that stretches all the way back to a 1400m benchmark 75 win at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day.
She backed that up with a 1500m win at Te Rapa and has since raced exclusively in Group company, finishing fourth in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile and Group 3 Aotearoa Classic and second in the Group 2 Cuddle Stakes at 1600m before her Group 1 win at that trip.
James is comfortable sending her to Australia for just one run given she crossed the Tasman last year, having one run in Sydney before a fifth placing in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
“She’s very accomplished with her travelling,” he said.
“She arrived over late Monday night, she travelled very well and settled in very quickly.”
James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, hopes to plan future preparations around trips to Australia and thinks Saturday’s race will assist in working out where She’s A Dealer fits in.
“I think we will be visiting Australia a bit more regularly with her from here on in,” he said.
“We’ll just put our toe in the water this prep and then she’ll have a spell and we’ll plan out from the result of Saturday as to where we head in the spring and summer of next season.
“I don’t doubt her ability. She’s a good mare.”
She’s A Dealer has the services of Jordan Childs in the 14-horse JRA Plate, in which she drew barrier 14 but will come in two spots if the emergencies don’t gain a start.
