New Zealand
Ace High filly to play Group One card
Gifted Ace High filly She’s A Dealer will cross the Tasman later this week in a bid to make her mark at the highest level.
Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the three-year-old will make her Australian debut at Randwick and a continuation of her hot domestic form will then see her travel further afield.
"She will fly over to Sydney next Sunday and race on May 24 in a Benchmark 72 for three-year-olds over 1800m," Wellwood said.
"If she can win or run very well, we hope to head up to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m).
"That's two weeks later so it's the perfect progression for her. Obviously, the Oaks is a bit of a moving target to try and work out whether she'll get in.
"It's done on prizemoney and we don't know what else will be there, but at this stage she'll probably have to win to get in."
She's A Dealer is raced by breeders Rich Hill Stud with friends Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton and is quickly making up for lost time.
She was laid low through the spring by a lung infection and, following a disappointing effort when unplaced on debut in March, has impressively won both of her subsequent starts at Ellerslie and Te Rapa.
"She has shown a lot and we've always thought she was a highly talented filly, but she had that unfortunate setback," Wellwood said.
"Her first run at Matamata was a bit of a head scratcher and we're still left wondering what happened that day.
"We thought perhaps it may have had something to do with going left-handed, but she's gone that way since and proved that it isn't a problem and rated like a black-type horse at Te Rapa the other day."
She's A Dealer has been partnered in all three appearances by George Rooke, but visa issues will prevent him from making the Australian trip.
"Rory Hutchings is booked to ride her in Sydney, and we haven't come up with anything beyond that," Wellwood said.
"He's a top-class jockey and we've got a good rapport with him, he'll be the right man for the job."
She's A Dealer is a true-blue Rich Hill product with her dam Say No More, a two-time Group One-winning daughter of former stud stalwart Pentire.
All six of her foals have been winners, including the stakes performer I Say Hello, and is also the granddam of the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Lantern Way.
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