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The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare Deals In Heels gave her sire Iffraaj his 63rd stakes winner she she won the Listed Matamata Cup on Saturday.
Deals In Heels bounced back from a disappointing 11th in the G3 Spring Sprint at Hastings on October 6 to beat the classy prospect Demonetization (All Too Hard) by half a length.
Andrew Forsman said they had chosen the quick back-up for Deals And Heals after she returned from her last run in such good form.“When we got her back from Hastings she was bucking and squealing when we took her out to the training track,” Forsman said.
“She came through her race well so we had to make a decision about going to Matamata or tackling the Breeders’ Stakes at Hawera.In the end we chose the Matamata option as it meant she didn’t have to make the long trek to the Central Districts two weeks in a row.”
Stablemate Nicoletta (Savabeel x Celtic Crown by Doneraile Court) made it a stakes double for the stable after she won the G3 Taranaki Breeders Stakes at Hawera.The five-year-old mare, having her first outing since her third in the G2 Travis Stakes, beat Livin' On A Prayer (Redwood) by a quarter of a length.
“We thought this race was perfect for her as she has been ready to go first up for a while now,” said Forsman.“The only worry was the 1400 metres as she is better suited to the mile or beyond but being on the fresh side meant she could get away with what sounded like a very brave effort.”