Wellwood chases a Karaka 3YO treble

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainers Robert Wellwood and Roger James will be out to continue their stranglehold on the Karaka Millions 3YO at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The partners have trained the past two winners of the race, with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) saluting in 2023 and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) blowing rivals away in the 2024 edition.

This year, they saddle up undefeated gelding Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High) in the rich feature.

The son of Ace High has made an immediate impression, winning the first two starts of his career, but faces his biggest test to date in Saturday’s NZ$1.5 million race.

Dealt With heads into the race on the back of a six-day turnaround and whether he handles it is the major cloud over his head, Wellwood said.

“We are pretty proud to have won the race the last two years with horses we have purchased. We only have 45 in work, we only buy small numbers here,” Wellwood said.

“To be able to try and retain our crown (is a thrill). We’ve had to be patient with him for one reason or another. He’s unbeaten, he’s had two runs, he shows a lot of ability.

“He is backing up six days after his last run which, obviously, ideally you’d have a little bit longer.”

While Dealt With has the same star quality as Prowess and Orchestral, Wellwood believes he’s a slightly different profile to them.

“They had a little bit more experience under their belt. They were probably horses we thought would get 2000m post that,” he said.

“He’s more a sprinter/miler type rather than carrying on to a 2000-metre race, a Derby. Hopefully if we can tick off this one, we will go to The Kiwi and win the two richest races in New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, Orchestral will also contest the 1600-metre Aotearoa Classic, where she is a $2.45 favourite.

The dual Group 1 winner was most recently seen on Australian shores during the spring, where she finished sixth in the Toorak Handicap and last in the Empire Rose Stakes.

“The key to her is being up to a mile and back to set weights,” Wellwood said.

“She’s had a good break, come back in lovely order. Her work on Tuesday morning was very good.

“We see no reason why she can’t find her form of old.”

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