Trainer John Thompson will be chasing a feature race double at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone Saturday meeting.
John Thompson is reverting to a proven formula with multiple stakes winner Sweet Deal, who returns to her favoured distance range in the Hawkesbury Crown.
In a quest to capture a G1 win, connections aimed the daughter of Casino Prince at the Coolmore Classic but the 1500 metre journey proved a bridge too far.
Thompson was quick to regroup and after freshening Sweet Deal, the mare produced an eye-catching last-start performance to finish fourth to Fasika over 1200m.
Her trainer believes the extra 100m of Saturday’s G3 race sets up perfectly, as Sweet Deal prepares to go under the hammer at next month’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
“We were trying to get the Group One, so we ran her in a couple of those 1500s but it’s just not her go, it’s too far,” Thompson said.
“She is probably 1100 to 1400 max. That’s her range.
“She was lost for speed the other day because she was 1500 back to 12 but up to 1300 for her next run should suit.
“She’s thriving and she looks fantastic.”
Sweet Deal will be one of two Hawkesbury Crown runners for Thompson, along with enigmatic mareInto The Abyss.
The Randwick trainer is optimistic Purple Sector can bounce back to his best form in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).
A Listed winner at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, Purple Sector heads to the race third-up after resuming with a fifth to Gem Song in the Newcastle Newmarket before a below par performance when unplaced behind Yao Dash in the Doncaster Prelude.
“He was a bit disappointing the other day at Rosehill on the shifty track,” Thompson said.
“I gave him a little freshen up and he seems to be in good order again, so we’ll see how he goes.”
