On a day of many highlights, the performance of lightly raced filly Deals in Heels stood out as one from the top drawer at Ellerslie on Saturday.
A maiden winner on debut at Rotorua, Deals In Heels took the step up in grade with aplomb as she buried her rating 65 rivals with an electrifying late burst to maintain an unbeaten record with victory in the Marks Ewen - Fasttrack $5K 1400.
That victory had looked an outside prospect at best early in the contest with Deals In Heels settled near the rear of the 12-horse field after copping a check at the 1000 metre mark. Patiently handled by rider Matt Cameron, the filly crept closer approaching the home turn although she still looked a forlorn hope when spotting the leaders 6 lengths with less than 300 metres to run.
It was then the afterburners kicked in and the filly dashed between runners to grab the lead in the shadows of the post as she cruised clear to win by a comfortable three-quarters of a length margin.
"We've always thought she had the ability but has just taken time to strengthen up," advised co-trainer Murray Baker, who prepares the filly with training partner Andrew Forsman.
"She is from a good family that have all needed that time so I think there is plenty more in store for her as she gets a little bit older.
"I trained her mother who won eight races so if she can emulate her then we will have a lot of fun along the way."
Deals in Heels is raced by her breeder Emma Evans and is a daughter of Spinning World mare Fascinator who won eight races and is the half-sister to Gr. 1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Dezigna.
Baker was also taken by the run of lightly raced mare Let Me Roar who finished close-up in third in the day's feature event, the Gr. 2 Manco Easter stakes. It was the mare's first defeat at just her seventh start with Baker justifiably proud of her effort.
"I thought it was a terrific run from a mare having just her seventh race," he said.
"To be taking on what was a Group One field in every way except on paper, on just a handful of starts, is a big ask and she came out of it with flying colours.
"She has a big future in front or her and is still on the way up so I think there is still one or two runs left in this campaign for her."
