The Group 3 JRA Plate presents as a seemingly low-key Australian mission post a Group 1 success, though trainer Roger James lists compelling reasons why it suits She’s A Dealer ideally.
The four-year-old Ace High offspring will sign off her campaign in the $250,000 Randwick showdown.
Coming off her Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes conquest on March 28, James considers the 2000m distance her prime target now.
“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.”
Her campaign’s seventh start is this JRA Plate, originating from a 1400m benchmark 75 triumph at Ellerslie during Melbourne Cup Day.
She added a 1500m win at Te Rapa, then embraced Group racing exclusively, with fourths in Group 2 Rich Hill Mile and Group 3 Aotearoa Classic, a second in Group 2 Cuddle Stakes at 1600m, before the Group 1 verdict.
Having ventured to Australia last year for a Sydney run and fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m), James trusts her for this lone effort.
“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 and partner Robert Wellwood aim to build future plans around Australian jaunts, using Saturday’s race to assess her prospects.
“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.”
The mare She’s A Dealer teams with Jordan Childs in the field of 14 for the JRA Plate, allocated stall 14 but eligible to move in two if emergencies fail to start.
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