Lightly-raced Kiwi filly She's A Dealer and her little known jockey George Rooke are set to spring a surprise on Randwick
A mystery New Zealand filly and her unknown English rider are set to make a statement in their Australian debuts at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
She's A Dealer and jockey George Rooke are set to continue their winning momentum in the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m).
Champion Kiwi trainer Roger James has Queensland Oaks ambitions for She's A Dealer after she won her two most recent starts impressively at Ellerslie and Te Rapa with Rooke in the saddle.
James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, has a big opinion of the three-year-old filly and her jockey.
'She's A Dealer hasn't got enough prizemoney to qualify for the Queensland Oaks (Eagle Farm, June 7),' James said.
'So, we thought by bringing her to Sydney, it might give her the chance to get into the Oaks.
'People in New Zealand had not heard of George Rooke nine months ago but he's a talented jockey and he knows this filly very well.'
She's A Dealer, who is by 2017 Spring Champion Stakes-Victoria Derby winner Ace High, has only had three starts and is in her first race preparation.
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are keeping She's A Dealer 'safe' in betting, rating her an $8 chance behind Sisu Spirit, the $4.20 favourite.
'She's A Dealer is a filly we have liked for a long time but she got a lung infection in the spring and we lost three months with her,' James revealed.
Race 3 at Te Rapa goes to the @Kingsclere_Nz trained Filly She's A Dealer
The 3yo by Ace High (@RichHillStud) broke her maiden last start, and backed it up with another win at the hands of @GeorgeRooke6
Replay: https://t.co/z6Ro5dNGo0 #BigSaturday | @TeRapaRacing pic.twitter.com/2CcGWaBEYt
â€' Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) April 26, 2025
• Randwick predicted to go ahead despite dire forecast
'Then at her first start in March, she did a lot wrong which was unusual for her.
'But then she has come out and won her next two starts easily and we feel she is a very promising filly.'
James said Rooke was recommended to him by Mark Todd, New Zealand's two-time Olympic Equestrian gold medallist.
'Mark is an old friend of mine and he was at Royal Ascot last year where he saw George riding,' James said.
'George wasn't getting a lot of opportunities in England so he made the move to New Zealand last October and has already ridden 55 winners, he's in the top 10 in the jockeys premiership and is basically our stable rider now.'
She's A Dealer hasn't raced on a heavy track so far in her three-start career but James is confident his filly will handle the very wet conditions at Randwick on Saturday.
'She has trialled on a heavy track at home and handled it pretty well,' James said.
'Whether that was because of her ability I'm not sure but I think she will get through it okay. She arrived in Sydney last weekend and has not missed a beat since so we are looking forward to Saturday's race.'
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