Lucky Sweynesse Timely Return to Form

Media Release - Tuesday November 21

It was a timely win for Lucky Sweynesse in Sunday’s Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin, with his half-brother set to go under the hammer this week at Karaka.

A New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate himself, Lucky Sweynesse was purchased out of Woburn Farm’s 2020 draft by J & I Bloodstock for $90,000. He has gone on to win 14 races in Hong Kong, including the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), and Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).

Lucky Sweynesse is back in winning form - image HKJC

The son of Sweynesse was crowned Champion Griffin in 2021-22 before going on to become Champion Sprinter and Four-Year-Old in the Asian racing jurisdiction a year later.

It was Zac Purton’s tenth win on Lucky Sweynesse, who is the first horse since Hot King Prawn in 2018 and 2020 to win the race twice.

“He got the job done,” Purton said. “He’s sort of getting back to his best. He’s not quite there yet but he took another step in the right direction today and he’s going to need to be better next time.”

Lucky Sweynesse will now aim to land his first Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 10 December.

Woburn Farm are offering a half-brother by Contributer as Lot 116 at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, and farm principal Adrian Stanley has been buoyed by the level of interest in the colt.

Contributer (IRE) colt from Madonna Mia.

“He is a lovely, strong, physical horse,” Stanley said.

“It was lovely to see Lucky Sweynesse back to winning form and a good rehearsal for the International Group One Sprint next month.

Advertisement

“There is a lot of Hong Kong interest in the colt. He ticks all the boxes for a horse that deserves to go up to Hong Kong.”

Having prepared Lucky Sweynesse for the sale, Stanley said the Contributer colt is a more impressive physical type than his older sibling.

“He is more physical and stronger than his brother. His brother was the same size, but this guy is more forward,” he said.

The colt is part of a 15-strong Woburn Farm draft and Stanley is also expecting strong results with a couple of other juveniles.

“Lot 358, the Shamus Award, is a lovely type of horse. He is a Guineas and Derby type of horse and he has been well received,” he said.

“Lot 259, The Autumn Sun, is a lovely shape of horse and you would be pressed to find a better type than him on the sale ground.”

Stanley has been pleased with the foot traffic at Karaka ahead of the sale, which commences on November 22 at 11am.

“Coming out of COVID, it is picking up and getting busier every year,” he said. “It is good to see the Hong Kong trainers and permit holders down. It gives a good vibe ahead of the sale and hopefully that transfers to the sale ring tomorrow.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
National Online Breeding Stock Sale Online Now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second SW For Aquis Sire Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Pride’s Outsider Estadio Mestalla Wins Winter Stakes
The lone stakes race on Rosehill’s ten-race card on Saturday saw Joe Pride’s race outsider Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) take out the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (1400m) in a boilover.
Invincible 2YO Colt wins for Bennett Racing
The $150,000 VRC Next Gen Sprinters Series Final (1200m) for two year-olds at Flemington on Saturday drew a competitive field of progressive juveniles and the colt that stood out on type in the yard was the one that got the cash with I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard proving too good for race favourite Bacash.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.