The Group 3 JRA Plate may appear as a relatively straightforward Australian assignment for a recent Group 1 victor, yet trainer Roger James identifies several factors making it an ideal choice for She’s A Dealer.
The Ace High filly will conclude her current preparation in the $250,000 contest at Randwick.
This four-year-old mare triumphed in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes during her latest outing on March 28, with James noting that the 2000-metre distance represents the best fit for her right now in the campaign.
“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.”
The JRA Plate marks She’s A Dealer’s seventh start this preparation, which began with a victory in a 1400m benchmark 75 event at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day.
She followed that success with another win over 1500m at Te Rapa, then competed solely in Group races, achieving fourth places in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile and Group 3 Aotearoa Classic, a runner-up finish in the Group 2 Cuddle Stakes at 1600m, leading to her Group 1 success over the same distance.
James feels at ease dispatching her across the Tasman for a single appearance, considering her prior trip last year that included a Sydney run before finishing fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
“She’s very accomplished with her travelling,” he said.
“She arrived over late Monday night, she travelled very well and settled in very quickly.”
Training alongside Robert Wellwood, James anticipates shaping upcoming campaigns around Australian ventures and believes this Saturday’s event will help determine her placement.
“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.”
She’s A Dealer will have Jordan Childs aboard in the 14-horse JRA Plate, where she has gate 14 but could shift inward by two positions should emergencies not secure a berth.
Explore the racing odds for the JRA Plate on Australian betting sites.
