The decision to keep Casino Dancer in work for another twelve months continues to pay dividends for Hawkesbury owner-trainer Mike Van Gestel and her sire Casino Prince who has also had Hooked (Tramway Gr.2) and Escado (JRA Cup Gr.3)claim Group victories this Spring.

The five year-old Casino Prince mare claimed her first black-type victory in the G3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last month and she added another Group 3 in the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

“We were sending her to stud this season but she’s really enjoying her racing,” Van Gestel said. “We’re going back home now and I will nominate her for the Villiers.”

The Eclipse purse increased her earnings to $503,225 and the G2 Villiers Stakes (1600m), worth $175,000, will be run at Randwick on December 12.

Casino Dancer (5m Casino Prince – Nine Covers by Twining) is the only horse under Van Gestel’s care and she cost just $9,000 from a Patinack Farm dispersal at the 2012 Magic Millions National Sale.

The Eclipse Stakes wasn’t originally part of the plan in Melbourne until he decided to roll the dice after an eye catching third in last Saturday’s G3 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington.

“We decided to stay another week and it was worth it. We cuddled her, swam her and walked her and didn’t go to the track. She’s been very good to us. Blinkers have really helped and I was very confident today.”

Her sire Casino Prince (Flying Spur) stands at Vinery Stud for a $13,200 (inc gst) fee. Her dam Nine Covers is a half-sister to Flying Spur’s Caulfield stakes winner Gawne.