Congratulations quickly turned to commiserations on Saturday for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
The Cambridge trainers firstly presented the future black type prospect Deals In Heels to win the Quickcount Handicap (1300m) at Tauranga before the gallant grey stayer Maygrove was victorious in the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Awapuni.
“He’s got a very shallow foot in his near fore, but he worked brilliantly this morning and Stephen Baster said he felt great andhe's been the same throughout his career,” Baker said.“It doesn’t worry him when he’s warmed up.
“They said he’s two out of five lame and there’s not much you can do about it. He’s working well and racing well so there’s not much wrong with him in my opinion.”Training partner Forsman said he felt for the connections of Jon Snow.
“It’s been an up and down sort of day to say the least. It’s just one of those things and I’m more disappointed for the owners of Jon Snow than anything else.”Weather With You wasn’t able to turn the stable’s Australian fortunes around either when he was unplaced in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
However, positive news on the domestic front will see Deals In Heels head toward the Gr.2 NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on November 25 while plans have yet to be made for Maygrove.“It’s his first win for over 12 months and he’s carried 59kg,” Forsman said.
“We decided to miss the New Zealand Cup carnival with him this year and we’ll keep him ticking over and happy and look at the options.”Dual Group Two winner Maygrove settled within a few lengths of the leaders before rider Johnathan Parkes made his move across the top.
“With the weight he had to get rolling and it was a 10 out of 10 ride,” Forsman said. “It was a gutsy effort.”Maygrove held a strong gallop to the post to give the runner-up Alinko Prince five kilos and a beating with Snow Secret coming from the back for third.
