Stakes targets await Ace High mare
Talented Ace High mare She’s A Dealer looks set to fulfil her black-type potential during her upcoming campaign.
Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the four-year-old made her first appearance off a break with an impressive display at the Ellerslie trials on Thursday.
She settled well back in the running before making a move across the top and swept home down the outside of the track to win her 1100m heat under a kind ride from regular partner George Rooke.
“She trialled very well and as long as she comes through it nicely, she’ll be stepping out at the races in three weeks or so,” Wellwood said.
“She looks to have an exciting summer ahead of her.”
She’s A Dealer made a belated start to her three-year-old season last term due to a lung infection and following an unplaced debut run she won two on the bounce at Ellerslie and Te Rapa to earn a trip across the Tasman.
She finished runner-up over 1800m on a heavy Randwick track in her Australian debut and was then a gallant fifth on soft going in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
“We’ve always had a lot of time for her and illness stopped her campaign last spring and when she came back, she really did it all off one preparation,” Wellwood said.
“She didn’t get tracks to suit her in Australia but ran very well and she has really strengthened up a matured a lot.
“She can still run and win a Rating 75 and then we’ll be looking at the mares’ races with her.”
She’s A Dealer is raced by breeder Rich Hill Stud with friends Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton and is out of Pentire’s dual Group One-winning daughter Say No More.
Her Rich Hill-based sire Ace High will also hold a good hand in the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with Molly Bloom and She’s A Hustler in the mares’ feature.
Molly Bloom enjoyed a stellar three-year-old season for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and twice at Group Two level to claim the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title.
She subsequently relocated to Chris Waller’s stable and has been a multiple black-type placegetter, including a third placing two runs back in the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1500m) at The Valley.
The Grahame Begg-trained She’s A Hustler, co-bred by Rich Hil with Nearco Stud, has five wins and three placings from eight appearances and finished runner-up in last season’s Listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m).

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