The Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill next month is a potential autumn target for the gutsy John Thompson-trained Sweet Deal following her tough first-up win in the 2020 Triscay Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Having won three of her four latest runs last spring, the Casino Prince mare raced in the Group 3 $160,000 Triscay Stakes (1200m) on Apollo Stakes Day having her first start since the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) success at Newcastle last September.
Traditionally a mare who runs better second rather than first-up, Sweet Deal showed plenty of class looking fit after two good Randwick trials this summer with an all-the-way win in the Triscay Stakes to continue the nice run of form for Thompson.
Jockey Nash Rawiller took the five-year-old to the front soon after the jump and Sweet Deal had to do plenty of work to gain the lead looking to cross the field.
Setting a blistering early pace, she proved too good for her 11 rivals going around the bend and keeping her front running position onto the straight.
The backmarkers weren’t able to work their way into the race and Sweet Deal ($15) looked outstanding in her runaway 2.3 length win over the roughie in the race Spiritual Pursuit ($51).
Rounding out the Triscay Stakes trifecta a further length back third was the Godolphin-raced Pohutukawa ($8.50).
“She’s a mare that’s just got better with age, she’s grown in confidence, she’s going super,” Thompson said post-win.
“She’s probably even better on top of the ground too.
“Mares, when they’re going well, they’re going well.”
Sweet Deal could now be tested at elite level for just the second time.
As a filly she finished eighth behind Alizee – winner of the Group 2 Apollo Stakes one run before the Triscay on Saturday – in the 2017 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
Looking like she will improve on her Triscay Stakes winning return, Sweet Deal could now target a run in the 2002 Coolmore Classic on March 14.
She was a $51 roughie in the all-in Coolmore Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au before taking out the Triscay but has now firmed notably into $14 with markets led by impressive Light Fingers Stakes winning filly Flit ($5).
Click here for the latest pre-field Coolmore Classic betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 Triscay Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Barrier | Weight | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | SWEET DEAL | John Thompson | Nash Rawiller | – | 6 | 56.5kg | $14 |
2 | 14 | SPIRITUAL PURSUIT | Jason Coyle | Zac Spain | 2.3L | 3 | 53kg | $51 |
3 | 5 | POHUTUKAWA | James Cummings | Tommy Berry | 3.3L | 10 | 55.5kg | $8.50 |
4 | 10 | DAWN DAWN | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jamie Spencer | 3.5L | 8 | 53kg (cd 54kg) | $9 |
5 | 3 | NOIRE | Chris Waller | Glen Boss | 3.6L | 11 | 56kg | $21 |
6 | 7 | SWEET SCANDAL | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 4.1L | 9 | 53.5kg | $26 |
7 | 11 | SEASONS | Les Bridge | Andrew Adkins | 4.3L | 2 | 53kg | $5F |
8 | 6 | RESIN | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 4.5L | 7 | 54.5kg | $8.50 |
9 | 8 | CONNEMARA | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 5.6L | 1 | 53kg (cd 54kg) | $10 |
10 | 1 | REELEM IN RUBY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 5.7L | 12 | 58kg | $8.50 |
11 | 4 | FIESTA | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 7.1L | 5 | 55.5kg | $6.50 |
12 | 13 | LASHES | Matthew Smith | Jean Van Overmeire (a) | 7.4L | 4 | 53kg | $11 |
– | 9 | NOTATION | Matthew Dale | Jay Ford | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 12 | RIVER BIRD | Jason Coyle | Ms Jess Taylor | – | 0 | – | – |