Hong Kong vs. Japan in Sprinters Stakes Showdown

Hong Kong invader Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) adds international spice to the Sprinters Stakes (G1T) Sept. 28 at Nakayama Racecourse but the locals look well able to defend their turf with Satono Reve (JPN) in a field that also includes the last two years' winners. The 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) Sprinters Stakes is the first top-level event of the autumn calendar, ending the summer hiatus. It also is one of just two top-level sprints offered by the Japan Racing Association, following the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1T) in the springtime. Lucky Sweynesse was the talk of Hong Kong early in his career, winning 10 group races, including four group 1 events. After winning the Sprint Cup (G2) in April of 2024, he suffered a left front injury and underwent surgery, finally returning at the end of the 2024-25 season to finish sixth and fourth in two starts. Trainer Manfred Man continued to nurse him along during the summer break and he reported second, behind only the world's top-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ), in the season-opening HKSAR Chief Executive's Handicap Sept. 7. Ka Ying Rising is set to contest The Everest (G1) in October in Australia. After a training run two days out from the race, Man reported all was well with Lucky Sweynesse. But he then drew gate 10 for the Sprinters Stakes and the trainer said that could be an issue. "The horse is no different from when he was in Hong Kong," Man said. "Morning training went very good and I'm happy with him. I just heard that his draw is number 10, which was a bit wider than we hoped for and with the Japanese horses with the better draws having a better chance, we will think about the tactics now." Hong Kong-based horses have won the Sprinters Stakes twice—Silent Witness in 2005 and Takeover Target in 2006. If Lucky Sweynesse is to be the third, he will have to get by the likes of impressive globetrotter Satono Reve, whose successes include this year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen; last year's winner, Lugal (JPN); and the 2023 winner, Mama Cocha (JPN). Satono Reve is the hot horse of that trio. After finishing seventh in the 2024 Sprinters Stakes, he traveled to Hong Kong and got home third behind Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1). He followed that with the Takamatsunomiya win in March and another trip to Hong Kong in April, where he was second, again behind Ka Ying Rising, in the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1). On to Royal Ascot in June, Satono Reve was second, yet again, in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1). "His two seconds in his recent overseas races were disappointing, but they were both very solid performances," trainer Noriyuki Hori said. "The horse has a lot more experience now and has developed considerably as a racehorse. I don't think he's not suited to the Nakayama 1,200 meters. I think he's capable of getting good results and proving that he is suited to the race." Satono Reve will break from gate 7 with Joao Moreira aboard.