Lucky Sweynesse pleases in turf gallop ahead of Sprinters Stakes challenge

By Declan Schuster

Lucky Sweynesse’s preparation for Sunday’s (28 September) G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) saw the four-time Group 1 winner gallop gracefully over Nakayama’s turf course under beaming sunshine this morning (Wednesday, 24 September) in Tokyo, Japan.

Trainer Manfred Man and owners the Cheng family watched on delighted as the seven-year-old brown gelding powered up the 310m-long uphill home straight under restraint from jockey Derek Leung, who with Lucky Sweynesse, is aiming to secure Hong Kong, China’s third win in the prized contest this weekend after Silent Witness (2005) and Ultra Fantasy (2010).

“He feels great. He always looks around like he does in Hong Kong, always curious with everything. It was his first time galloping here but everything went smoothly,” Leung said.

After his hit-out, Lucky Sweynesse – exuding swagger and confidence – returned to a swarm of photographers and then made a few laps around the paddock before heading to the Japan Racing Association’s international stables at Nakayama.

Man said: “He worked very good. The jockey reported that the horse feels very fit. Today was just to see him gallop. In Hong Kong, we already know that his form keeps coming. In my mind, I am happy about the horse.

“He had two runs last season and came sixth and fourth. Beginning this season, he came second in the (Class 1 HKSAR) Chief Executive’s Cup (Handicap, 1200m) and the track that day wasn’t really suitable for him, but he still came second behind the best (sprinter) in the world (Ka Ying Rising).”

Sporting a visor first-up on 7 September in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup under persistent rain at Sha Tin, Lucky Sweynesse will again don headwear this Sunday when he squares off with Group 1 winners Satono Reve, Lugal, Mama Cocha and more at Nakayama, a picturesque racetrack located in the Chiba Prefecture of the Greater Tokyo Area.

Speaking of Lucky Sweynesse’s added gear, Man said: “Now as his age is getting a bit older, we need a little bit of support to keep him more concentrated (in races).”

Lucky Sweynesse began his career as an unraced three-year-old with debut success at Happy Valley in 2022, the former Hong Kong Champion Sprinter (2022/23) has won 16 times from 27 starts in Hong Kong for earnings of HK$75.75 million.

Sparingly raced over the last year due to surgery and setbacks, Lucky Sweynesse’s biggest wins have come in the 2023 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), 2023 G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), 2023 G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and 2023 G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

He is one of only five horses to claim the HK$5 million Hong Kong Speed Series bonus, doing so in the 2022/23 season, along with Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 & 2004/05) and Ka Ying Rising (2024/25). The three-race bonus rewards a horse successful in the Centenary Sprint Cup, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Chairman’s Sprint Prize in the same season.

First run in 1967, Sunday’s edition of the Sprinters Stakes is the 59th running. The Hong Kong Jockey Club will simulcast the race, scheduled to jump at 2.40pm (HKT).

Barriers for the Sprinters Stakes are drawn on Friday (26 September) at 9am (JST).