She's A Dealer takes on Randwick in JRA Plate after Kiwi G1 glory
Although the Group 3 JRA Plate looks like a simple Australian raid for a horse fresh off a Group 1 triumph, Roger James has numerous justifications for selecting it as perfect for She's A Dealer.
Ace High's daughter will wrap up her season in the $250,000 race held at Randwick.
The four-year-old secured the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes in her last run on March 28, and according to James, the 2000m trip suits her perfectly at this point.
"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."
She's A Dealer enters the JRA Plate for her seventh outing this campaign, starting from a 1400m benchmark 75 success at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day.
That was followed by a 1500m victory at Te Rapa, after which she stuck to Group-level competition, placing fourth in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile and Group 3 Aotearoa Classic, second in the Group 2 Cuddle Stakes over 1600m, prior to her Group 1 win at that distance.
With her experience crossing to Australia last year—including a Sydney start and a fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m)—James has no concerns about the one-off trip.
"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, in partnership with Robert Wellwood, plans to incorporate more Australian sojourns moving forward, viewing Saturday's race as key to gauging her level.
"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."
In the 14-horse JRA Plate, She's A Dealer gets Jordan Childs and drew barrier 14, potentially improving to 12 if emergencies scratch.
Find the best betting markets for the race among top online bookmakers.
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