Tough mare Sweet Deal scored a nail biting first up win in Group 3 $160,000 Bowermans Commercial Furniture Toy Show (1100m) at Randwick today.

Sweet Deal, above, scored a nail biting first up win in the 2020 Toy Show at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winning connections had a long wait before the judge finally made his decision in awarding Sweet Deal the race by the narrowest of margins, a nose.

James McDonald settled Sweet Deal in the middle of the pack and brought her to the outside in the straight to make her winning run.

The John Thompson trained Sweet Deal ($6.50) gained the upper hand at the 100m and just as she was going to be called the winner, Zaniah ($26), with Jason Collett riding hard, made a late lunge right on the line but was denied a last stride win.

Third placegetter Seasons ($9) ran a solid race to hang on for third, a head back.

“She (Sweet Deal) galloped here on Tuesday and worked very well. It was what we’d call a winning gallop,” Thompson said.

“We were quietly confident. I thought the 1100m might be a bit short but as it turned out it was a little bit too long. We needed it shorter. Chatting to a few trainers this morning, I was worried about the big weight as well. Talking to Les Bridge he said good mares win these races and she is a good mare.”

“There are nice mares races coming up from now on. The next race for her is Set Weights and Penalties so she will probably meet these mares a lot better off at the weights. She is going well and in for a good prep.”

The $2.15 favourite Adelong had to work hard early to reach the front and that took its toll at the finish and the Brad Widdop trained mare finished two lengths from the winner in sixth position.