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The powerful training partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have significantly strengthened their hand for an upcoming Group Two feature.

Their Cambridge stable has the exciting Francaletta aimed at the NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on November 25 and another gifted mare in Deals In Heels is now almost certain to join her.

The latter pressed her claims for a shot at black type when she made a successful open class debut at Saturday’s Tauranga meeting in the Quickcount Handicap (1300m).

“She’s only got one or two more runs in this preparation so we’d like to have a crack at a stakes race,” Forsman said.

“When we saw that there was a bit of rain in the forecast for Tauranga we started to think it might be a nice option for Deals In Heels.”

Francaletta, a last-start winner of the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes(1400m), had also been under consideration for the race before her conditioners decided she will go to Pukekohe without another run.

The High Chaparral mare has won six of her eight starts and she suffered the first defeat of her career when unplaced in last year’s Breeders’ Stakes at Pukekohe at just her fifth appearance.

Deals In Heels, who has won five of her seven outings, bounced out of the gates on Saturday and Matt Cameron sat her on the leader’s quarters.

They had a fight on their hands in the straight with the gallant pacemaker Galaxy Miss before gaining a long neck decision. Splurge got going late to take third money off Neala, who did well after missing the jump