NZB Ready to Run Star Lucky Sweynesse Wins G3 Chinese Challenge Cup

Media Release - Monday January 2

Emerging Hong Kong sprinting star Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) put a piece of Group One misfortune behind him with an authoritative victory in Sunday’s HK$3.9m Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin.

Lucky Sweynesse wins the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup - image HKJC

Bought for $90,000 from the 2020 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Lucky Sweynesse has shone brightly in Hong Kong with eight wins and three placings from 12 starts to date. He was Hong Kong’s Champion Griffin in 2021-22, and his earnings of HK$15.45m (NZ$3.15m) are now 35 times his purchase price.

Advertisement

Lucky Sweynesse had announced his arrival among the top echelon of Hong Kong sprinters with an impressive win in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) in late November, making him one of the favourites for last month’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). But he never saw daylight in that coveted HK$24m showpiece, finishing a luckless sixth.

It was a different story on Sunday, with rider Zac Purton keeping him out of trouble just outside the leader until the home turn. It was the Lucky Sweynesse show from that point on, as the exciting four-year-old cruised to the lead and took control of the race with ease. He crossed the finish line a length and a quarter in front of Healthy Happy (Zoustar), stopping the clock at 1:21.43 for 1400 metres.

“His last run, he didn’t get the chance to race,” trainer Manfred Man said. “He just keeps improving, and how good is he? I can’t give you the answer at the moment, because he still has the chance to improve.

“With his rating (119), he has many options, but we will go for the Centenary Sprint Cup (Group One, 1200m) in February.”

Sunday’s win also made a favourable impression on Purton.

“It was pretty painless,” the champion jockey said. “It always looked like it would be that way pre-race. He was sluggish from the gates and took about 50 metres to get into his stride, but once he did, he was just in a lovely spot. The rhythm of the race suited him. I just looked after him and with the weight, it was a nice effort.”

Lucky Sweynesse is by Novara Park stallion Sweynesse out of the well-performed racemare Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs), who won nine races including the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m). Madonna Mia is the dam of two foals, both of them stakes performers – Lucky Sweynesse’s older full-sister Signora Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse) is a three-time stakes placegetter including in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Vendor Woburn Farm
Purchaser J & I Bloodstock (Waikato)
Breeding Sweynesse – Madonna Mia
Sale Lot 284, 2020 Ready to Run Sale, $90,000
Bred by P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock
Visit the profile page for Sweynesse

Sweynesse in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Manikato Next for Alabama Lass
New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.
Lucky Sweynesse a Class Above in Chairman's Sprint Prize
Odds-on favourite Lucky Sweynesse stood tall in the Group 1 The Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin and took his place among the world's elite sprinters.
Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G3 in South Korea
Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea.
El Vencedor Crowned NZ Horse of the Year
Rich Hill Stud’s standing as a centre of thoroughbred excellence has been further emphasised with El Vencedor named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
Barneswood Farm Trans Tasman Strike
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm.
$1.7million Flightline Colt Sets Pace at Keeneland September Day 1
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale is underway and as expected yearlings from the first crop of US Horse of the Year Flightline are lighting up the sale ring, while a colt by Widden Stud shuttler Cogburn’s sire Not This Time sold for $1.6million.
Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) Defends Sprint Cup Crown
Hong Kong’s sprinting superstar Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) notched up his 10th black-type victory with an emphatic defence of his title in Sunday’s HK$5.35m Group Two Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.
Lucky Sweynesse Wins Again!
Kiwi bred sprinter Lucky Sweynesse went on his wining way at Sha Tin on Sunday and might be given the chance to extend a phenomenal season in search of a ninth victory after matching Beauty Generation’s record for the most wins in a single Hong Kong campaign with a dominant performance in the Group III Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m).
Vale, Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock was a crowd pleaser when paraded as a living legend at the Coolmore stallion parade last month, but sadly this spring was to be his last. 
Sires With Winners - Monday September 8
Here is the full list of 18 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.