Roger James and Robert Wellwood will launch the spring campaigns of a trio of quality gallopers at Ellerslie on Saturday, headed by Group One-winning mare She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m).

She’s A Dealer established her top-flight credentials last season with victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and will make her first appearance of the new term in Saturday’s weight-for-age feature.

The five-year-old has been readied for her return with a trial at Taupo and a subsequent gallop at Ellerslie, and while Wellwood expects her to improve with the outing, he is looking forward to seeing her back at the races.

“As you would expect for a Group One race, it is a good field, but she certainly deserves her spot, and we are really looking forward to seeing her step back out, knowing that she is going to be better going a mile or even further,” Wellwood said.

“She is loving being back. Sometimes these older mares take a bit longer to get back to good fitness.

“I thought her trial at Taupo was good, and post her gallop at Ellerslie, all reports were good. She is probably just half a step behind some of the others.

“She has only had the one trial, and there will definitely be improvement from Saturday’s run.”

The Cambridge trainers already have the early stages of She’s A Dealer’s spring mapped out, with the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) next on the agenda before a decision is made on whether to remain in New Zealand for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

“We will certainly head to the Howden Mile, and then there are a few options, whether we stay around for a Livamol or look elsewhere, but those first two runs are pretty much in concrete,” Wellwood said.

Earlier on Saturday’s programme, promising three-year-old Excite (Wootton Bassett) will begin his campaign in the Rich Hill Stud 1400m.

The colt is already prominent in futures markets for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 54th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, where he is currently the $8 second favourite.

“Hopefully he’s a Guineas horse of some sort. Unfortunately, he has drawn eight of eight this weekend, which isn’t going to make things easy,” Wellwood said.

“He looks to be a highly talented horse. He hasn’t had all the luck throughout his career.

“He was very unlucky in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Trentham, and even though he won at Te Rapa, he ran into trouble there as well.

“So, from barrier eight, he shouldn’t have traffic problems this time. We think he is an exciting horse.”

The stable’s third runner at Ellerslie is The Precursor (St Jean), who will resume over 1600m as he begins a campaign aimed towards the Gr.3 Martin Collins 163rd New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November.

Wellwood is also keeping a close eye on another promising youngster in Shore Breeze (Too Darn Hot), who caught the eye in a recent Cambridge trial.

“Our filly Shore Breeze trialled very well at Cambridge, under no pressure,” he said.

The stable is likely to be a regular visitor to Ellerslie through the spring, with Wellwood pleased with the consistency of the renovated surface.

“With the track being redone, you know you are going to get good footing there,” he said.

“We typically like to race our horses on better ground, and good footing is almost guaranteed at Ellerslie. A lot of the time, the money is up there, so it is where you want to be racing.” - NZ Racing Desk

Smug to tackle postponed Pakuranga Hunt Cup

Jumps trainers have had a frustrating run of postponements of their feature meetings this year, with the latest being Te Aroha’s Pakuranga Hunt meeting last Saturday, which was postponed to Thursday due to the heavy rain forecast for last weekend.

One trainer that was pleased with the delay was Cambridge trainer Chris Wood, who will line-up Smug (NZ) (Complacent) in The Valley Toyota Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m).

“It wasn’t very nice weather, and they did the right thing and they have given everybody the chance to be there, and they let us know early, so you can make plans around that,” Wood said.

Te Aroha’s track was rated a Heavy9 on Wednesday morning, and Wood is hoping the conditions aren’t too testing for his charge.

“He is super, I am just hoping the track is not too Heavy,” he said.

Smug takes winning form into the meeting, having won an open steeplechase over 4000m at Woodville last month, and Wood has been pleased with his progress.

“He jumped well and did everything right last start,” Wood said. “He is nice and bright and has come through that run well, so I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Wood will have just the one runner at Ellerslie - Emmy Dazzler (NZ) (Embellish) in the Eagle Technology 1600.

“She didn’t have much luck the other day (when fourth over 1550m on the Cambridge synthetic), she got carted back a bit across the top and ran home alright,” he said. “She is six years old and has got to start shaping up, otherwise she will be heading to the broodmare paddock.”

Meanwhile, Wood said he was pleased with the trials of Son of Sun (NZ) (Tavistock), Sassy Lass (NZ) (Staphanos) and Boxmoss (NZ) (Vadamos) at Cambridge on Tuesday.

“They trialled yesterday and they all went really well,” Wood said. “I am looking forward to spring racing over ground with those three. We will try and track down a few cups with a bit of luck – Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m), Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) and then on to Auckland (Gr.2, 3200m).” - Joshua Smith

Stumbles seeking sentimental home victory

Apprentice jockey Cooper Stumbles will return home to ride at Wingatui on Friday, where family members are hoping they will be cheering home his first winner.

The Waikato-based rider, who has 11 raceday rides under his belt, is one race shy of a full book of rides, with his first mount, Sacred Mist (NZ) (Sacred Falls), providing him one of his best opportunities of the day.

Part-owned by his parents, Grant and Maria Stumbles, Sacred Mist is trained by local horseman Terry Kennedy, who is hoping he can provide the 19-year-old hoop with a fitting first win in the Grand Casino 1600.

“Cooper Stumbles’ parents have a share in her, so hopefully we can get Cooper his first win,” Kennedy said.

“He helped us out for a couple of years off and on when he didn’t have school. He has always been part of the family.

“Cooper’s mum, Maria Stumbles (nee Dowling), is my wife’s cousin, so it’s all part of the family.”

Sacred Mist heads into the race in good form, having won two of her last three starts.

“She is going well and has four kilos off her back, which I think will help on the track (Heavy10) on Friday,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy will also line-up Proudtobehere in the same race.

“She hasn’t raced since Riccarton (when eighth over 1800m on August 1),” he said. “She just didn’t cop the track at Riccarton, got down on the worst part of the track and still went a creditable race.

“She has done well since she raced.”

Kennedy will also have a two-pronged attack in the Positive Signs + Print 1200 courtesy of stable newcomer Hollyhockaroo (NZ) (Time Test) and Litteral (NZ) (Redwood).

“Hollyhockaroo hasn’t raced for nearly 12 months, so she is going to improve quite a bit,” Kennedy said. “I have only had her for three months, Dave Walsh trained her prior. She didn’t handle the synthetic up there (Riccarton) that well, that is why she has come to me.

“Litteral has been going alright races, and she is a chance in that sort of race.”

Kennedy believes he has saved his best for last, and said Yoo Hoo Joy (NZ) (Ghibellines) is a big chance in the KB Contractors 1400.

“She is probably one of my better runners for the day,” Kennedy said. “She has been going good races. Back to rating 60 you would think she will be very competitive.” - Joshua Smith

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