Derek Leung Ka-chun is optimistic Lucky Sweynesse will bounce back from his Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) defeat when he takes on superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Sunday’s Group Two BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin.

A strong second to Ka Ying Rising in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) at the start of the season, Lucky Sweynesse travelled to Japan for his first overseas mission but could only manage 11th behind Win Carnelian in the Sprinters Stakes.

Leung and trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung said the four-time Group One victor struggled with the muddling speed and pressure from a runner to his outside.

But Leung has been thrilled with Lucky Sweynesse since his return to Hong Kong, with the seven-year-old finishing second in a pair of trials in preparation for Sunday’s feature.

“He had time to recover from Japan and it seems like he’s more relaxed. His trials have been good and he’s feeling good,” Leung said.

“I’m happy with the horse. I think he can still hold his form and perform well.”

Ka Ying Rising will bid for a 15th straight victory on Sunday and his presence in next month’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) could prompt Man and Lucky Sweynesse’s owners to venture into uncharted territory.

The seven-year-old has also been entered for the Group One Hong Kong Mile on the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) fixture and trialled over 1,600m last month, finishing second to stablemate Chiu Chow Spirit at Conghua.

“The trainer and owner wanted to see if he could handle a mile or not, because he often needs time to pick up his feet in his races,” Leung said of Lucky Sweynesse, who has won three 1,400m races but is yet to be tested at a mile.

“It’s hard to beat the Horse of the Year. That horse is just a different class, so we’re trying to have more options. We need to see on Sunday first.”

Lucky Sweynesse bagged his first feature success in the Jockey Club Sprint in 2022 and returned the following year to win it again.

He missed the race last year while working his way back from surgery to repair a fetlock injury, which he suffered after his Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) win.

While Ka Ying Rising will be all the rage on Sunday, Helios Express, Lucky With You, Beauty Waves, Fast Network, Raging Blizzard, Tomodachi Kokoroe, Wunderbar and Divano also feature in a strong line-up.

Sunday’s star-studded meeting will also be headlined by Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble’s clash in the Group Two BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) and My Wish’s bid for a third straight win in the Group Two BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile.

Leung will ride Tony Cruz’s consistent galloper Beauty Joy in the Jockey Club Cup and the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Patch Of Theta in the Jockey Club Mile.

“They are strong field but my two horses are very honest, so I’m sure they can get some prize money,” Leung said.

“Beauty Joy has been carrying top weight but this time it’s set weights and penalties, so it should be better for him.”