New Zealand-bred sprinter Lucky Sweynesse is aiming to continue his resurgence with a fifth Group One victory on Sunday when he contests the Gr.1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

A son of Novara Park Stud sire Sweynesse and stakes winner Madonna Mia, Lucky Sweynesse won the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in 2023, earning the crown of Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter in 2022/23.

Since those triumphs, the gelding has faced a number of injury setbacks and a surgery, but looked to be heading in the right direction when finishing second behind fellow Kiwi-bred superstar Ka Ying Rising in the Chief Executive’s Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin, the latter now heading to the A$20 million A$20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick next month.

Lucky Sweynesse’s trainer Manfred Man elected to test his charge’s talents in Japan second-up and was delighted with his work at the course on Wednesday, stretching out strongly under jockey Derek Leung.

“He feels great, he always looks around like he does in Hong Kong, always curious with everything,” Leung said. “It was his first time galloping here but everything went smoothly.”

Man indicated the seven-year-old would continue wearing visor blinkers, as he did in his resuming effort on the 7^th of September.

“Now his age is getting a bit older, we need a little bit of support to keep him concentrated (in races),” Man said.

“He worked very well and the jockey reported that the horse feels very fit, today was just to see him gallop. In Hong Kong, we already know that his form keeps coming. In my mind, I am happy about the horse.

“He had two runs last season for a sixth and fourth. Beginning this season, he came second in the Chief Executive’s Cup and the track that day wasn’t really suitable for him, but he still came second behind the best (sprinter) in the world (Ka Ying Rising).”

Bred by Paul Dombroski, Luigi Muollo's Explosive Breeding Ltd and Allan Sharrock, Lucky Sweynesse was sold to Hong Kong after winning at trial at Ellerslie in 2021, and has accumulated HK$75.75 million in earnings with 16 wins from 27 starts.