 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
After experiencing two consecutive defeats this season, Lucky Sweynesse, the champion sprinter, made a valiant effort and narrowly defeated Victor The Winner in the Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint, the dress rehearsal for the upcoming Hong Kong Sprint. This marked Lucky Sweynesse's second consecutive victory in this Group Two spectacle.
The 5YO gelding trained by K L Man, will be vying for his first win in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.
Zac Purton secured his tenth victory on Lucky Sweynesse, making the horse the first to win the race twice since Hot King Prawn in 2018 and 2020.
“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 had finished second twice since resuming from a spell. Wellington, who had not run since finishing tenth of 16 at Royal Ascot in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in June over 1200m, was also expected to perform well.
Victor The Winner, who had previously defeated Lucky Sweynesse by 2.5 lengths in September, once again threatened to topple Hong Kong's sprint king. Lucky Sweynesse was wide going forward after the jump and settled fourth, while Wellington jumped well but was happy to let Victor The Winner make the running in front.
Victor The Winner kept rolling along in front and 600m from home was waiting for the challengers to arrive. Lucky Sweynesse started his charge home three wide, with Sight Success chasing Victor The Winner in second. Wellington started to peg the leader back and Lucky Sweynesse lunged late to snatch a gutsy victory from Victor The Winner. Wellington was third.
Lucky Sweynesse was much better off with the set weights and penalties scale in today's race with 128 pounds, after carrying 135lb in his first two races this campaign. Victor The Winner's jockey Karis Teetan rode a bold race and made the heavily-supported Lucky Sweynesse earn his win, scoring by just a neck in 1m 08.42s. Victor The Winner was able to settle and dictate terms in front, and it was perhaps only the world class of Lucky Sweynesse that got him that narrow victory.