Distance test awaits She’s A Dealer
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are looking forward to stepping She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) up over further ground following her bold third placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Hastings.
The Group One-winning daughter of Ace High carried owner-breeder Rich Hill Thoroughbreds’ colours to a thrilling three-way finish with Waitak and Tuxedo, ultimately conceding to the pair by the barest of margins.
James was proud of his mare’s effort and is now looking forward to returning to Hastings with her on Saturday week to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).
While She’s A Dealer has competed over ground in Australia, running fifth in both the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m), she has yet to run further than a mile in New Zealand.
“She was very brave and it will be interesting to see her go 2000m next start,” James said. “She has only had three runs further than a mile. I am looking forward to seeing her go 2000m.
“The two big boys that beat her home last time are going to be very hard to beat again, but I think it comes down to those three again.”
The TAB’s futures market matches James’ assessment, with Tuxedo and Waitak heading the market at $2.50, while She’s A Dealer is the second elect at $6.
She’s A Dealer’s aptly named stablemate Excite (Wootton Bassett) also competed at Hastings last weekend, finishing seventh in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) following a tardy beginning.
The son of Wootton Bassett showed plenty as a juvenile last season, winning the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) and running fourth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), but barrier manners have hindered his first couple of starts as a three-year-old.
“His barrier manners have let him down in both of his last two starts,” James said. “If we can get them right, he is still in the hunt. I see he ran the quickest last 600m of the race, but he has got into a bit of a naughty habit in the barriers, so I think we are going to have to do some work on that to see if we can remedy it.”
Following Saturday’s run, Excite has drifted to $10 for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and James and Wellwood are currently contemplating their next steps to get him to the southern Classic.
“We are not certain where we a going to go with him yet,” James said.
Meanwhile, the stable will have a quiet week at the races, with just the one runner at Cambridge and Matamata on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.
Last season’s $4 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) runner Zivou (NZ) (Bivouac) will resume in the Nems Medical 970, where he will get the benefit of apprentice jockey Abinith Simon’s four-kilogram claim.
“He’s fresh-up and it is probably a little bit short for him, but he has got enough pace to think that he can be competitive,” James said.
Stablemate The Precursor (St Jean) will take his next step towards the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November when he heads to Matamata on Saturday, where the son of St Jean is nominated for three races, including the Listed Fairview Matamata Kaimai Stakes (1600m).
“He is on a New Zealand Cup mission, and he is doing everything we had hoped for at this stage,” James said. “We will have a look at those noms and try and place him as best we can. He will probably have one more run before he heads down for the Metropolitan (Listed, 2580m) and then the Cup.”
