Francaletta is ready for redemption.
That's the view of Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman as he puts the finishing polish on the five-year-old High Chaparral mare ahead of Saturday's Gr.3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders' Stakes at Hawera.
Francaletta had only once been beaten leading into her last start in the Gr. 3 Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile at Awapuni, but she could only manage fifth place.
"It was a good effort but probably just a bridge too far, second-up after a long break and up to a mile on a testing track," said Forsman, who trains with Murray Baker.
"We're pretty forgiving of that run and hoping she can bounce back. We expect her to run very well. She's not well off at weight-for-age but these black-type opportunities in fillies and mares’ company don't come around often so you've got to have a go."
Francaletta had been set to tackle the Gr. 3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at last Saturday's Hastings meeting but missed out on racing after the meeting was abandoned halfway through the card.
"It was a shame. We floated her all the way down there for nothing and we've just got to hope this week that the travel doesn't get to her," Forsman added.
Francaletta is the stable's sole runner at Hawera, complemented by a team of eight closer to home at Matamata on Saturday. Among them are Deals In Heels, Eleonora and Grand Rio – all entries for the Gr. 2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on November 15 – and Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas hopefuls Charli Rose and Serenity.
Carrying the same JML Bloodstock colours as Francaletta, Victoria Oaks-placegetter Eleonora, who has been served by Savabeel, makes her four-year-old debut in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup. She was placed in a trial at Te Awamutu in July only to have her raceday return thwarted by unsuitable heavy tracks in recent weeks.
"A slow track is going to suit her fresh-up. We couldn't be happier with her work, which has really improved in the last few weeks," Forsman said. "She's definitely good enough to win but we'd have to be a bit forgiving if she did happen to blow out."
Deals In Heels has won four of her five starts and has looked an exciting prospect.
"Even in her trackwork, the more she does of anything, the better she gets," Forsman said of the Iffraaj mare. "She got a bit keen last start, got a bit fizzed up and though she is probably looking for 1400 to 1600 metres now, we're hoping we can get away with dropping back to 1200."
Three-year-old fillies Charli Rose and Serenity clash in the Fairview Ford Motors 1400, a race which could see a return match-up in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie a fortnight later if both run well.
"Both are still Guineas contenders, having won a race each this preparation. We like them both," Forsman said.
The remaining stable runners are Street Ranger, Crafty Jess and O'Carol, while in Melbourne Bonneval and Jon Snow contest Saturday's A$1 million Caulfield Stakes and Lizzie L'Amour tackles Sunday's Listed Cranbourne Cup.
