Queensland Oaks start in balance for Kiwi filly

[Wandering Eyes]

Ace High filly She’s A Dealer (Ace High) will keep ticking over until her Classic aspirations become clear.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained three-year-old was a gallant runner-up at Randwick on Saturday, but her chances of a start in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) remain unclear.

She’s A Dealer pleased connections in her Australian debut over 1800m on a heavy track under regular rider George Rooke in Rich Hill Stud’s colours.

“We just don’t know yet whether she’ll make the Oaks field,” farm principal John Thompson said.

“She’ll stay in Sydney until the field is released on Tuesday week and we can ship her up to Brisbane if she gets in.

“If she doesn’t, we’ll make a decision whether we leave her in Sydney for another run or bring her home.”

She’s A Dealer was co-bred by Rich Hill and Peter Merton, who race her with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd and Ian Hart.

Following a below par debut run, she had reeled off consecutive wins at Ellerslie and Te Rapa to earn a trip across the Tasman.

“She fought on pretty well and we were happy with the run, that’s for sure. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next,” Thompson said.

On the domestic scene, Rich Hill graduate Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) was an emphatic all-the-way winner of the open 1600m handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday for the fifth success of the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding’s career.

The son of Vadamos was bred by Thompson and school friend Merton and sold to Wexford Stables at Karaka for $125,000.

Uderzo is out of the Pentire mare Etosha Lass, who has a retained two-year-old filly by Proisir and a weanling colt by Ace High.

“The Proisir is in pre-training, we’re not rushing her and haven’t selected a trainer yet,” Thompson said.

“The mare is empty and we haven’t made a decision for this year, she’s got a bit of age on her now and we’ll have a chat about it.”

Thompson is currently on the Gold Coast for this week’s National Broodmare Sale, having already made a A$250,000 purchase out of Glenesk Thoroughbreds’ draft at the recent Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

“She’s by Pierro, a lovely maiden mare off the track called Poifect and will come back and go to Satono Aladdin,” he said.

Poifect was trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes and won four of her 14 starts, including the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m).

She is out of the winning Flying Spur mare Without Exception, whose brother Krupt was successful in the Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) and half-sister Anevay won the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m).

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