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By Ray Hickson

Lady luck hasn’t exactly shone on Sweet Deal in her final racing preparation but trainer John Thompson has the fingers crossed the mare can go out on a high at Newcastle on Saturday.

John Thompson with his 2020 Hunter trophy. (Pic: Steve Hart)

The seven-year-old, in foal to Zoustar, has her swansong in the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) and after adding barrier 16 to her first-up 12 of 14 in The Nivison and 11 of 12 in The Invitation it’s going to take a gun ride from Brock Ryan to get her home.

Ryan is no stranger to gun rides, though, having produced a 10 out of 10 on Count De Rupee only to be cut down in the shadows in The Golden Eagle two weeks ago.

“We haven’t had much luck, it’s just one of those things, but it wouldn’t take much to turn it around,’’ Thompson said.

“We’ve been drawing bad gates but she’s going well and hopefully we’ve saved all our luck up for Saturday.”

Sweet Deal ventured to Canterbury on Tuesday for a course proper gallop, with renovations going on at Randwick’s two main tracks, and Thompson was rapt with the work she produced, with Ryan riding, alongside stablemate Prince Of Arragon.

He said the gallop in very soft ground told him the horse is going well as her best performances have largely been on good surfaces.

The mare was initially retired after she ran third, demoted from second on protest, in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara in Brisbane in June but the announcement of the The Invitation saw a small change of plan.

She ultimately finished ninth, beaten three lengths by Icebath, in the $2 million fillies and mares event on October 23 and though Thompson was disappointed there were some excuses.

“I was expecting more. But she got into an awkward spot and when (Josh Parr) was ready to go the winner came around and held us up for a furlong,’’ he said.

“He had to wait until it went before she came out to follow it. She’s not a sit and sprint horse, she’s a momentum horse, and it takes her 100m to wind up.

“By the time she got out the bird had flown, they were all in top gear and we were just getting going.”

Thompson knows that Sweet Deal, $26 with TAB on Wednesday, is going to need a supreme performance to defend her Hunter title, not just because of the barrier but the quality of the field has improved from a year ago.

She carried 56kg to win the race last year but even though she’s won The Hunter and the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown, plus that Group 1 placing, since that weight was allocated she drops 2kg on Saturday.

“That just goes to show the strength of the field, it’s just a stronger race,’’ he said.

“We thought she was a Group 1 mare and when she ran second, even though she lost it on protest, in Brisbane it confirmed what we thought all along.”

Sweet Deal's run in The Invitation at Randwick

Stablemate Grand Piano was among The Hunter nominations but he’ll kick off in the Hunter Valley Premium Meats T-Bone Steaks Handicap (1300m).

Thompson has been pleased with how the five-yar-old has come up this preparation and if he performs in his first couple of starts next month's Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) could be a target.

“It depends on how he’s going but there’s nice races coming up,’’ he said.

“I think he is in for a good prep. He goes well fresh and he seems to be going well so I can see him running a good race.”

Nash Rawiller has had seven rides on Grand Piano for four wins and a second and is back on board first-up.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's The Hunter meeting at Newcastle