The formidable duo of Zac Purton and Lucky Sweynesse have combined to take out the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Having won ten times from 15 starts in partnership including two successes at Group level, the duo showed their class at Sha Tin on Sunday with a three-quarter length win over Lucky With You and Wellington.
“He (Lucky Sweynesse) deserved it,” Purton said.
“He’s been our best sprinter for the last year and obviously he was able to atone for last year.”
The only time Purton has finished out of the money aboard Lucky Sweynesse was in the 2022 Hong Kong International Sprint where he finished sixth after being held up badly for a run.
There may have been some sense of deju vu for Purton who again found himself held up upon straightening aboard the five-year-old gelding until moving off heels at the 300m.
“He had a nice run in the race and just went for the running inside James (Victor The Winner), when it presented. He shifted in and hampered me a little bit. James (McDonald) then accelerated and come across me so it allowed me to get out. He (Lucky Sweynesse) did the rest,” Purton said.
Lucky Sweynesse had gradually worked into his latest campaign with two seconds before winning the Jockey Club Sprint last start.
“I could just feel in the mornings his track work had improved, his action was getting a little bit better,” Purton said.
“He was pulling up better from his gallops, his overall demeanour in the mornings – he was getting back to somewhere where he was last season. I could just see that he was blossoming at the right time.”
Lucky Sweynesse was Purton’s second victory on the Hong Kong International Races program having opened his account winning Race 1 aboard Gorgeous Win.