Arthur Cooper takes a look at the main contenders in this year's Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint.
Despite many attempts over the years, British and European horses have failed to win the Longines Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint over six furlongs. That all may change on Sunday as the multiple Group 1 winning six-year-old mare Highfield Princess attempts to rewrite the history books.
For a filly who didn't race until three – and even then, her first race start wasn't until June – Highfield Princess has had a big thirty-eight starts, averaging more than nine outings each year. But she is a mare who thrives on racing. It took her five starts to break the maiden tag when landing a handicap at Ayr but since then, the John Quinn-trained mare has progressed to win fourteen times, four at Group 1 level. Only one of her wins has been over six furlongs – a Group 2 at York – and she arrives on the back of a Group 1 victory in the Prix de l'Abbaye over five furlongs on the straight course at Longchamp. She normally settles just off the speed and runs home strongly.
Second in that race was the twelve-time raced three-year-old Aesop's Fables who put in his best performance since his two-year-old days. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, blinkers have been added for his past two starts resulting in renewed interest and in three starts over this distance, he is yet to miss the frame. Aesop's Fables can drift back in the field, so the Sha Tin home-straight should suit his racing style.
Domestic horses have made this race their own over the years having won eight of the past nine editions. This year, the top two local chances are Lucky Sweynesse and Wellington. Both race close to leaders although neither are likely to make the running.
The World's highest-rated sprinter is Lucky Sweynesse. Winner of fourteen of his twenty starts, eleven have been over this distance, including three Group 1 successes. A last-start winner of the Group 2 trial race three weeks ago over course and distance, his last Group 1 contest and win was the spring equivalent sprint in April. He looks like the worthy and justifiable favourite.
Wellington has ten victories over six furlongs and four Group 1 races. He returns to defend his title, having won this race last year when beating Lucky Sweynesse who finished, what many consider, an unlucky sixth. Wellington finished third in a trial here on his last outing.
Japan won this race in 2020 and this year has two runners, Mad Cool and Jasper You, both of whom tend to race close to the pace. Neither horse has won a Group 1 but do have good records over the distance. Mad Cool looks the stronger chance of the two and at just four, is the rising sprinting star in Japan.
Selection – LUCKY SWEYNESSE
