Leading Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine is fit and well according to jockey Brett Prebble ahead of his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign that will include an attack on the major sprints in Melbourne.

Brett Prebble is chasing more feature race glory when he partners Lucky Nine during the spring. Photo by: Steve Hart

Lucky Nine has not been seen at the races since his impressive victory over Australian sprinter Bel Sprinter in the Group 1 Krisflyer International Sprint (1200m) at Singapore in May, which came at the end of a lengthy campaign that also included a victory in the Group 1 The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in Hong Kong.

Prebble has ridden Lucky Nine in twenty of his career starts and told Racing Ahead that he couldn’t wait for the Dubawi gelding to arrive in Australia.

“He will trial up and do most of his work at Hong Kong and come here fit and ready to go,” Prebble said on RSN.

“There is a bit of a hole in the Australian sprinters at the moment and there is a good chance for a Hong Kong-based horse to come down here and make inroads in the major sprint races.

“I’m really looking forward to riding him; he is one of my favourite horses.”

The Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 9 are both on the agenda for the six-year-old with the prizemoney for both races increased to $1 million this year.

Lucky Nine has failed to fire down the straight at Sha Tin in Hong Kong but Prebble believes the five-time Group 1 winner will be better suited to the Australian style of straight racing.

“His straight form doesn’t look that good but Hong Kong straight racing is a lot different than the Flemington straight racing,” the experienced jockey said.

“At Flemington they jump out and get their positions and sprint home while in Hong Kong they jump out and go from the barrier.

“Here will suit him much better, he will just work up into his race.”

Prebble has made the decision to move back to Melbourne for the spring and is set to partner a number of leading Group 1 contenders including last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and classy European import Sea Moon.