Sweet Deal has ticked another box towards a Group 1 spring goal in a stirring finish to the Toy Show Quality Gr.3 at Randwick.
The Casino Prince mare landed her third stakes race after lifting late to deny Zaniah (Zoustar) by a nose on Saturday. “I thought the 1100m might be a bit short and I was also worried about the 59kg,” trainer John Thompson said. “But Les Bridge told me good mares win these races.
“She is a good mare and she ran a winning gallop here on Tuesday morning.”
Jockey James McDonald claimed Sweet Deal was entitled to tire under the big weight. “She toughed it out against horses well down in the handicaps and will appreciate meeting them on a better weight scale next month.”
Sweet Deal struck black-type in the Tibbie Stakes Gr.3 and Triscay Stakes Gr.3 last season and her next assignments will likely be at Rosehill in the Sheraco Stakes Gr.2 and Golden Pendant Gr.2 in September.
Connections will then look at a Melbourne campaign focused on the Empire Rose Stakes Gr.1 at Flemington on October 31. “She just keeps getting bigger and stronger every time she comes back,” Thompson added. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see her go to the highest level this spring.”
Sweet Deal was bred by Pip Cooper from her Canterbury winner Dorothy Evelyn (Royal Academy). The mare’s final foal is a 2yo colt by Casino Prince that she has retained.
Cooper sold Sweet Deal for $67,500 at the 2016 Inglis Classic Sale and the mare has returned 9 wins and $760,000 to date for a syndicate managed by Calie Stone.
Boomer Bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell recalls buying her from the Lincoln Farm draft prepped by Nick Posa. “She was a big powerful type as a yearling with a beautiful head and eye. My budget was $65,000 and thankfully Calie gave me the nod to have one more bid.”
Sweet Deal is one of 19 individual stakes winners by Vinery sire Casino Prince and his overall winning strike-rate is a stratospheric 72%. Owner-breeders searching for a bargain can book into Casino Prince for a $5,500 (inc. GST) service fee this season, which is payable on live foal.
