Rich Ellerslie prize beckons emerging mare
Paul Vettise • December 29th, 2025 12:12 PM • 3 min read
Gifted four-year-old She’s A Dealer is in the right order to make a successful challenge for higher honours on New Year’s Day.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare is unbeaten this preparation and will bid for a hat-trick of wins when she steps out in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie.
The daughter of Ace High has won four of her seven starts and finished a gallant fifth in last season’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
“Her work has been terrific, and this race comes up at the right time, conditions suit and it’s an appropriate race for her,” Wellwood said.
She’s A Dealer was bred by race sponsor Rich Hill Stud, who race her with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton.
She enjoyed a decent break following her Australian venture and was a dominant resuming winner over 1400m at Ellerslie before she again trounced her Rating 75 rivals over 1500m at Te Rapa.
“She’s very exciting and has been great in her last two starts and it would be nice to see her add black type to her record,” Wellwood said.
The stable will also be double handed in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) with Dance The Night and Della Ricci to be ideally suited by a rise in trip.
The former broke her maiden in fine style at Pukekohe before the Almanzor filly came from well back to finish fifth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day.
“Her run the other day pointed toward New Year’s Day and she’s come through the race very well,” Wellwood said.
Ocean Park’s daughter Della Ricci showed good improvement on her debut sixth at New Plymouth when a luckless last-start third over a mile at Matamata.
“She will have blinkers going on and it will suit her down to the ground going 2000m,” Wellwood said.
Young stablemates Incandescent and Spellbound are acceptors in the Gr.2 SkyCity Eclipse Stakes (1200m), but a trip south is also in the mix.
“We could also look at Wellington (Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes, 1100m), we’re very happy with both of them,” Wellwood said.
Incandescent made the perfect start to his career at Ellerslie last month with a commanding performance to score over 1100m while Spellbound has already been black type placed when third in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m).
Meanwhile, the stable has Road To Paris in the Eagle Technology (1600m) on New Year’s Day, but Trentham on Saturday is the preferred destination.
“Ideally, he will go to the Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) with Ellerslie a back-up in case he didn’t get in at Wellington,” Wellwood said.
“Obviously, he didn’t get any points last time with Masa (Hashizume) coming off and if he gets in the Classic, that’s where he will head.”
The Circus Maximus gelding had the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at his mercy last time out at Otaki before he veered out sharply close to home and dislodged his rider. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
