Trish Dunell
A comfortable victory at the recent Avondale trials has co-trainer Andrew Forsman excited about the prospects of promising mare Deals In Heels as she gets ready to kick of a new campaign this weekend.
The winner of two from three starts in a brief winter campaign, Deals In Heels hadn’t been seen since finishing third on a bog track at Ellerslie back in June. The four-year-old Iffraaj mare lined up in the third open heat over 1000 metres at Avondale and was all class as she eased to a three quarters of a length victory over the former European and Australian galloper Chance To Dance with 10 lengths back to the remaining four runners.
“It was good to see her back as she looked very promising in that first campaign and has done a treat since then,” said Forsman, who prepares the mare with training partner Murray Baker.
“She needed a decent break after her run at Ellerslie on a very heavy track and you can see she has strengthened noticeably since her time away.
“We think she has the ability to reach a good level however we are going to be patient with her and just make our way through the grades early on. Ultimately obtaining some black-type is the main goal so we will see how she progresses and then make some more concrete plans for her.”
Forsman said a decision would be made early in the week whether the mare heads north to Ruakaka for her resumption or joins several of her stablemates at the first day of the Hawkes Bay Spring carnival at Hastings.
“There are suitable races for her at both Hastings and Ruakaka so we will need to make a decision where we go with her,” he advised.
“We have Honey Rider set for the same race at Hastings so that could factor into the decision but we will wait and see how the nominations play out before we make a final choice.
Last season’s leading trainer’s will have a big team engaged at Hastings with three runners set to contest the Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy while promising three-year-old I Got You may line up in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy.
“At this stage, we have Luna Rossa, Coldplay and Stolen Dance in the Tarzino and they will all start,” said Forsman.
“Stolen Dance and Luna Rossa will be going in fresh and we are pleased with where they are both at.
“Coldplay didn’t get much of a crack at them in the Foxbridge Plate which may be a blessing in disguise as she didn’t end up having a gut-buster on the very heavy track. She has come through the race well and will have taken benefit from the outing she did have.
“I Got You looked good at Taupo so we will see how he measures up to the better ones at Hastings with some raceday fitness on his side.” – NZ Racing Desk