James and Wellwood launch spring assault at Ellerslie

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.”