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).
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.
“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.
“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."