Timely Group Two Triumph for Lucky Sweynesse (NZ)

Three days out from New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, the superstar horse on the cover of the catalogue scored an impeccably timed win in the HK$5.35m Group Two BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) has become one of the Ready to Run Sale’s most spectacular success stories, having been bought for just $90,000 three years ago. He has now had 20 starts for 14 wins and more than HK$56m in stakes – the equivalent of NZ$12m, which is more than 130 times his purchase price.

This was the second consecutive Jockey Club Sprint win for Lucky Sweynesse, whose victory in last year’s race was a springboard to a scintillating Group One treble in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

After winning eight races last season including all of his last six in a row, the superstar gelding was surprisingly beaten into second in both of his first two starts of the new season. But he made amends in emphatic style on Sunday, producing an irresistible finish down the Sha Tin straight to overhaul the gallant front-runner Victor The Winner (Toronado) and score by a neck. The 1200 metres were run in a slick 1:08.42.

“He got the job done,” regular rider Zac 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.”

Woburn Farm offers a half-brother to the star with Lot 116 by Contributor going under the auction hammer on Day One of the Ready to Run Sale this week. 

The 2023 Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, with selling starting at 11am each day.