Joy for the Locals as Lucky Sweynesse Salutes in Hong Kong Sprint

Mark Smith - Sunday December 10

It all went pear-shaped for Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) in last year’s Group 1 The Longines Sprint, when unplaced for the only time in his career, and for a worrying moment, it looked like a repeat was on the cards.

He's a winner (image Grant Courtney)

After enjoying the run of the race, Zac Purton was held in a pocket by James McDonald on Victor The Winner, but once in clear air, the son of Sweynesse put the race to bed.

Advertisement

The Manfred Man-trained 5yo gelding defeated the Artie Schiller (USA) gelding Lucky With You by three-quarters of a length with last year’ winner Wellington (All Too Hard) the same distance back in third.

With his fourth Group 1 success, Lucky Sweynesse advances his record to 15 wins, four seconds and a third from 21 starts with earnings of HK$70,568,900.

"I had the run inside Victor The Winner but when James went for him, he shifted in and hampered me a little bit, but he accelerated so quickly, I was able to come out across his heels and he had his chance from there – he did what he had to do. I love him,” Purton said.

A $90,000 purchase for J & I Bloodstock from the Woburn Farm draft at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, Lucky Sweynesse is a brother to Group I placed Signora Nera and is from stakes-winning Red Clubs mare Madonna Mia.

His fourth dam is the brilliant Group winning filly Beach Gown, the dam of dual Group I winning sprinter Wrap Around with other family members, including Champion 2YO Filly Fashions Afield and stakes-winners What You Need and Fashion Legend.

A win for the local hero (image Grant Courtney)

Lucky Sweynesse is the standout performer for the dual Group III winner, and Group 1 placed Lonhro stallion Sweynesse, who stands at Novara Park for $10,000. 

Visit the profile page for Sweynesse

Sweynesse in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - The Longines Hong Kong Sprint Gr1 1200m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:09.25
1
Lucky Sweynesse
- 5g Sweynesse (AUS) x Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs (IRE))
Tnr: K L Man Rdr: Z Purton 57
2
0.8
Lucky With You
- 6g Artie Schiller (USA) x Heredera (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: A Atzeni 57
3
1.6
Wellington
- 7g All Too Hard (AUS) x Mihiri (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: A Badel 57
All Too Hard
4
2
Victor The Winner
- 5g Toronado (IRE) x Noetic (AUS) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
5
2.5
Duke Wai
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x She's Swan Lake (NZ) (Green Perfume (USA))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: K Teetan 57
6
4
Highfield Princess
- 7m Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Pure Illusion (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: John Quinn Rdr: Jason Hart 55.5
7
4.3
Jasper Krone
- 5h Frosted (USA) x Fancy Kitten (USA) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: H Mori Rdr: Y Kawada 57
8
4.5
Mad Cool
- 5h Dark Angel (IRE) x Mad About You (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: M Ikezoe Rdr: Cristian Demuro 57
9
5.5
Sight Success
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Tarp (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: B Avdulla 57
10
6
Aesop's Fables
- 4h No Nay Never (USA) x How's She Cuttin' (IRE) (Shinko Forest (IRE))
Tnr: A O'Brien Rdr: Ryan Moore 57
More Reading...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Lucky Sweynesse Wins G2 Sprint Cup
Kiwi bred Ready to Run Sale graduate Lucky Sweynesse continued his domination of the sprint races in Hong Kong defeating reigning champion sprinter Wellington to win the Group II Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday and he comes from a renowned Aussie speed family.
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.