‘It didn’t hurt having Lucky Sweynesse win on Sunday’: plenty of interest in star sprinter’s half-brother

Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

After being turned over as an odds-on favourite at his first two starts this campaign, Hong Kong’s pre-eminent sprinter Lucky Sweynesse returned to the winner’s stall at Sha Tin on Sunday, taking out the G2 Jockey Club Sprint.

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It was a timely return to form, both for Lucky Sweynesse’s connections and Woburn Farm’s Adrian Stanley, who on Wednesday will put the 5-year-old’s half-brother through the ring at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.

“There’s been plenty of interest and it didn’t hurt having Lucky Sweynesse win on Sunday. It was pleasing to see him bounce back, he was a bit unlucky not to get up at his prior start,” Stanley told The Thoroughbred Report.

Lucky Sweynesse has made a huge impression in Hong Kong. He was crowned Champion Griffin in 2021/2022, before collecting three Group 1s and being named Champion Sprinter for 2022/23.

The gelding is from the Listed winner Madonna Mia (Red Clubs {Ire}) and was a member of Woburn Farm’s draft at the corresponding sale in 2020, with Joe Barnes of J & I Bloodstock buying him for NZ$90,000.

Subsequently sent to veteran Hong Kong-based trainer Manfred Man, Lucky Sweynesse boasts 14 wins from 20 starts and HK$56 million (AU$11 million/NZ$11.9 million) in prizemoney.

“He’s done a great job,” he said.

Lucky Sweynesse will be given the chance to add a fourth win at the elite level in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint - a race he finished sixth in last year - on International Day (December 10).

Stanley added: “He had a lovely frame to him, he just needed to mould into that frame. That’s the best thing about Hong Kong, you can buy a horse and they don’t have to go straight up there now, you can give them a bit more time to furnish in New Zealand. You can give them a trial and let them rip when they’re a bit older. They’re not getting pushed as early 2-year-olds and early 3-year-olds. There’s been a lot of success up there from horses sold here.”

Given Lucky Sweynesse’s success, Stanley said he wouldn’t be surprised to see his half-brother also head up to Hong Kong.

“He’s a lovely, strong Contributer colt. He’s got a great attitude and a good walk on him,” Stanley said.

“He ticks all the boxes for Hong Kong, I’m sure there’ll be people keen to have the half to Lucky Sweynesse, given what he has done up there.”

The Contributer colt, who is also a half-brother to the stakes performer Signora Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse), breezed in 10.49s at Te Rapa on October 17.

“He’s shown a lot of ability while he has been in training and everyone that has dealt with him has got a very high opinion of him,” said Stanley.

“He’s a tired horse now after today (Monday) and he’ll be a busy horse tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Runs on the board

Stanley has enjoyed a great deal of success at the Ready to Run Sale. In addition to Lucky Sweynesse, he sold Master Montaro (Toronado {Ire}) to Laming Racing for NZ$300,000 in 2018. He has won at Class 2 level in Hong Kong. And in 2019, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) went to NZ$550,000 for Packing Award (Shamus Award), and he is a Class 2 winner and Group 3 placegetter there.

“It has been a good sale and I’m happy and confident with this year’s draft,” Stanley remarked.

“I’ve got another Shamus Award this year (Lot 358) and I think he is on par or even better as a type.

“He’s shown a lot of ability and he’s got a bit of ‘wow factor’. His breeze-up wasn’t fast, but he did it in an easy time, as did the colt by The Autumn Sun (Lot 259). I’ve got a high opinion of both of them.”

Lot 358 is a gelded son of the Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) Caesour’s Promise, and his grandam is the Group 1 heroine Perfect Promise (SAf) (Caesour {USA}).

Lot 259 is a colt from the Listed winner Stormy Victoria (Fr) (Stormy River {Fr}).

Stanley’s draft also features two juveniles by New Zealand’s reigning Champion Sire Proisir.

Lot 115 is a colt from the winning Swiss Ace mare Madam Swiss, while Lot 350 is a gelding out of the winless mare Blushing Heights (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).

Gallery: Some of the lots to be offered by Woburn Farm at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

“The Blushing Heights gelding might stay here in New Zealand, but a lot of Australians have got him on the list too,” Stanley commented. “Both he and the Madam Swiss colt are going to develop into lovely horses in six months’ time.

“They’ve both got good ability and have lovely walks.”

Stanley will offer 15 2-year-olds at Karaka this week.

Eyes wide open

This year’s sale could prove challenging for vendors, with racing in Singapore set to be discontinued from October 2024. The Singapore market has long been an active participant at the Ready to Run Sale.

“I’ve sold a few to Singapore from this sale. It’s going to be a big dent in this sale for those middle-market horses,” Stanley explained.

With Singapore’s absence, Stanley hopes the local market steps up to the plate.

“Hopefully, the New Zealand domestic market can see what Entain and New Zealand Racing have done, they have put good money in. New Zealand trainers should be here having a look and bidding on these horses, because there’s great prizemoney up for grabs in New Zealand,” he said.

“You’d really want that domestic market picking up some slack.”