Statistics point to a favourable outcome in the HK$20m Chairman’s Sprint Prize, with 17 of the past 38 favourites (45%) winning the race, including 11 that started even-money or shorter—the shortest-priced winner, Silent Witness, at $1.05 in 2005.
This year the Manfred Man-trained four-year-old LUCKY SWEYNESSE will be out to stop local challenger WELLINGTON from completing a record-equalling third consecutive win. However, it’s with noting that only four four-year-olds have won this race since 2000, SILENT WITNESS (2004), SACRED KINGDOM (2008), IVICTORY (2018) and WELLINGTON (2021).
Australian-bred horses have won this race 18 times (47%) since 1985, including the last seven renewals since 2016. At the same time, only three horses have won this race at odds greater than odds of 20/1, namely BILLET EXPRESS (24/1) in 2006, DIM SUM (50/1) in 2011 and MR STUNNING (20/1) in 2020
