Fresh from Group I success at Rosehill on Saturday, champion jockey James McDonald was in hot form at Sha Tin on Sunday riding top class Kiwi bred sprinter Lucky Sweynesse to victory in the HK$12 million Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).
Trained by Manfred Man, Lucky Sweynesse stalked California Spangle throughout the contest before taking over with 200m left to run, prevailing by one and a quarter lengths in 1m 21.12s with last year’s winner Wellington filling third position.
“He’s a pretty straightforward sort of horse, he’s got a great mind to him. He was quick into momentum and we had a perfect trailing position behind California Spangle and he got a lovely tag into the race from the 500 (metre mark) onwards and it felt like a drag race home,” McDonald said.
The four-year-old son of Lonhro stallion Sweynesse landed the first leg of Hong Kong’s Speed Series – the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) – in February at his most recent outing before today and with victories in the first two legs, connections will land a HK$5 million bonus if successful in April’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) – the third and final leg of the Speed Series.
“What makes him so talented is that he’s not only a very fast horse but he can sustain the speed over seven furlongs, which not many sprinters can do, so he’s got a great attribute of conserving energy and building into a race like a pretty good horse,” McDonald 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 full brother to Group I placed Signora Nera and is from stakes-winning Red Clubs mare Madonna Mia.
With 10 wins and three placings from 14 starts, Lucky Sweynesse is the first Group I winner for Lonhro stallion Sweynesse, who stands at Novara Park.
