Sweet Deal (Casino Prince) added to her collection of Group 3 titles when she gave significant weight and a beating, albeit a closely run one, to her rivals with a first-up success on her home track at Randwick.

The John Thompson-trained mare prevailed in the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Toy Show to go with her previous successes in the G3 Triscay S. and the G3 Tibbie S.

In her first appearance since running fifth in the G1 Queen Of The Turf S. in the autumn, Sweet Deal camped in behind the leaders and finished on bravely to win by a narrow margin.

Zaniah (Zoustar) finished powerfully for second with Seasons (Sebring) an unlucky third after she was held up in the straight.

“In the last seven days she had really come on and she had that second trial. I galloped her on Tuesday and she worked very well, what we call a winning gallop,” Thompson said. “I was quietly confident, but I did think the 1100 metres would be a bit short.”

Sweet Deal was also lumped with 59kg in her return and Thompson admitted to some concern on that front.

“I was chatting to a few of the trainers and I was worried about the big weight. Les Bridge said to me that good mares win these races and she’s a very good mare.

“There’s some good mares’ races coming up for her and at set weights and penalties so she will meet them a lot better off. She’s going well and in for a good prep.”

With regular rider Nash Rawiller serving out a suspension, James McDonald proved an able replacement.

“She’s a really consistent and tough mare and she’s carried the topweight of 59kg there against mares well down in the handicap,” he said.

“She got there on the line and credit to John and his team, they have prepared her really well. She showed great speed and travelled well. Under that weight, she was entitled to get tired but she had the audacity to fight on and it was a great effort.”

Sweet Deal was offered at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where she was purchased out of Lincoln Farm’s draft by Boomer Bloodstock for $67,500.

“Sweet Deal was a big powerful type as a yearling with a beautiful head and eye and she has one of my favourite brands on her shoulder, Edinglassie Stud. The budget was $65,000 but thankfully my client Calie Stone gave me the nod to have one more bid which got her,” said Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock.

Rounsefell said the tough mare has always shown plenty of ability, and connections will be hopeful of notching that valuable Group 1 win.

“She was third on debut in the G3 Widden Stakes as a pre-Christmas two-year-old and has been very well handled by John Thompson developing her into a top class sprinting mare.

“She has some nice Gr.2 targets coming up like the Sheraco and Golden Pendant in Sydney, then possibly a Melbourne Campaign.”

A half-sister to a brace of winners, Sweet Deal is a daughter of Dorothy Evelyn (Royal Academy {USA}) who is out of a three-quarter sister to the G1 Western Australian Derby winner Chipolata (Lunchtime {GB}) and a half-sister to the G3 Lightning H. winner Dance Beat (Esperanto {USA}).