Top trainers claim Group 3 double
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman were again a dominant force at Rotorua on Saturday with a feature race double.
The Cambridge trainers produced Highlad to win the Group 3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) and their pair of Tomelilla and Deals In Heels later had the finish of the Group 3 ISCL Rotorua Stakes (1400m) to themselves.
The latter was the more fancied of the two, but it was 15-1 chance Tomelilla, a sister by Tavistock to multiple winner Viktor Vegas, who prevailed.
“To win a stakes race with her and the way she’s bred is very valuable,” Forsman said.
“She had handled a heavy track at Ellerslie, but we didn’t really know if she would handle it heavy here.”
Tomelilla sat back in the field and rider Troy Harris was able to track Deals In Heels into the race 800m from home and proved too good in the run to the line.
“She was travelling pretty well and it was just a matter on when to let her go,” Harris said.
“Once she got to the outside she finished strongly.”
Tomelilla drew out close to home to have one and a-quarter lengths on her barn-mate at the post.
“I have to feel a bit sorry for Deals In Heels, she’s been stakes placed in two of her three starts this time in,” Forsman said.
“She’ll get one in time, she just got beaten by a better one today.” O’Angel, who is still eligible for Rating 75 events, was nine lengths astern in third to collect a prized black type credit.