Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) has continued to raise the bar this season for trainer Manfred Man and on Sunday at Sha Tin the star four-year-old can add further gloss to an already impressive campaign if he is successful in the HK$5 million Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m).

Lucky Sweynesse has won five times this season. His biggest scalps have come in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) and G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m).

Underlining a remarkable advance this term, Lucky Sweynesse has soared to a career-high mark of 130 as Hong Kong’s highest rated sprinter – two points clear of Hong Kong Champion Sprinter (2021/22) Wellington – and equal to that of Romantic Warrior. 

“The horse (Lucky Sweynesse) is going well. He’s good. We’re looking forward to Sunday. He’s in good form, I’m very happy with him,” Man said. “This race and then the end of the month. That’s what I am concentrating on.”

This weekend’s field sees a small but hotly contested group go to post – led by last year’s winner Wellington, who will look to join Quicken Away (1989, 1990 & 1991) as the second three-time winner of the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) later this month on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 30 April) – which also features the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).

This weekend’s Group Two double-header at Sha Tin sees the running of the HK$5 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) as well – both contests serve as trials for FWD Champions Day.

Targets beyond the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at the end of this month are yet to be finalised with The Everest (1200m) and a campaign to Japan or Royal Ascot floated as options. 

“There are no decisions yet on going overseas. He has been entered for Japan, but the owners will make that decision – it’s up to them. I don’t know what they will decide yet,” Man said.