Lucky Sweynesse confirmed his position as the world's highest-rated sprinter when defeating outsider Lucky With You in the Longines Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). The first five home were all Hong Kong-based horses.
British runner Highfield Princess had to contend with a wide draw and was ridden forward in the early stages, but her early effort told, and she finished sixth. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Aesop's Fables was well positioned on the rail but was unable to improve when asked.
The winner, Lucky Sweynesse has now raced 21 times recording his fifteenth win and fourth Group 1 success. Twelve months ago, he finished an unlucky sixth in the race and whilst held up at the top of the straight, he was able to peel out and claim leader and known front-runner Victor The Winner.
Last year's victor Wellington finished a further length back in third.
Jockey Zac Purton summarised his win: "I had the run inside Victor The Winner but when James went for him, he shifted in and hampered me a little bit but he accelerated so quickly, I was able to come out across his heels and he had his chance from there - he did what he had to do. I love him.
"He's been our best sprinter for the last year, and he was able to atone for last year," said Purton, who predicted pre-race Lucky Sweynesse was back to his best after a relatively modest start to the season.
"I could feel in the morning his trackwork had improved, and his action was getting a little bit better. His all-around demeanour in the morning was getting back to where it was last season. I could see he was blossoming at the right time."
