Zac Purton shines with magnificent four-timer at Sha Tin
After setting a new Hong Kong wins record on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, Zac Purton starred with a four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday – headlined by a Class 2 double on the 11-race card.
Masterfully handled by Purton, Sunlight Power (Capitalist) dominated the Class 2 Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Cup Handicap (1600m) before the rider’s exceptional skill was on full display again atop Gorgeous Win (Press Statement) in the Class 2 Para Equestrian Handicap (1200m).
Trained by Ricky Yiu, Sunlight Power paid 1.4 to win. Purton said: “He had the right weight in this race, he drew the right barrier [one], he got a charmed run the whole way and because he had the fence, he was quite comfortable to ride.
“He can normally hang in and do a few things wrong but he gave me a great ride and he did everything right and did a good job.”
Skimming the rail from gate one, Sunlight Power hit the lead at the 250-metre mark with Purton. Untouched over the concluding stages, the winner clocked 1m 34.64s ahead of Yellowfin (Territories) and Karma (Turn Me Loose).
Danny Shum’s Gorgeous Win scooped a last-gasp victory with Purton, who timed his run to perfection with the four-year-old. Settled second-last as Baby Crystal (Per Incanto) clocked 22.20s for the first 400 metres to lead, Gorgeous Win was some ten lengths off the front among the nine-runner field.
Closing off in 22.86s for the final 400 metres, Gorgeous Win swept past Baby Crystal as the 1.5 market elect to prevail by a neck in 1m 09.31s – Purton’s 1,818th win in Hong Kong. The 42-year-old holds a 45-win lead at the top of the jockeys’ standings.
“I drew awkward [barrier seven] and a few horses were sort of out of position early, so I just had to let him find his rhythm and come into it when he was ready,” Purton said.
Magnifique (Charm Spirit) justified favouritism to score on debut for Purton and David Hall in the Class 4 Para Athletics Handicap (1000m). The three-year-old was bought for NZ$250,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready To Run Sale.
“[Owner] Kirk [Wong] picked him out at the Ready To Run Sale and he didn’t have a trainer. I’ve had a long history with the family and I had Absolute Champion for his father many moons ago,” Hall said. “To go down the straight on your first start as a three-year-old against some of those older more seasoned horses isn’t easy.”
Yuen Long Elite (Grunt) was the third winner of Purton’s quartet when the Manfred Man-trained gelding scooped a second career success in the Class 4 Para Badminton Handicap (1400m).
The Boom Box (Spirit Of Boom) extended his perfect record to three in the Class 3 Para Archery Handicap (1200m) under Vincent Ho for Chris So. The gelding covered the last 400 metres in 22.40s from near-last.
“Today it’s tough with all of the wind coming from the outside. He is better than what it is because today it’s a bit tough for us, but the positive side is that he is so switched off now. He doesn’t pull behind horses in the field anymore, so we’ll see how he pulls up and then decide for the future,” Ho said.
Never Peter Out (Grunt) became a three-time winner with Keith Yeung for Frankie Lor, narrowly edging rivals to capture the Class 4 Boccia Handicap (1650m).
“He was a bit difficult to begin with but we’ve sorted out the right gear with him,” Yeung said. “Ever since we put the visor on him his trackwork and racing performances have been very, very honest. I hope he can do it again in Class 3 with a light weight.”
Good Good (Savabeel) gave John Size a tenth win since the start of January by denying Billionaire Secret (Slade Power) in the Class 4 I’mPOSSIBLE Handicap (2000m) under Brenton Avdulla.
David Hayes struck in the Class 5 Para Swimming Handicap (1650m) with the 38-rating Precision Goal (Tavistock) – partnered by Luke Ferraris – who overcame barrier 12.
“It was a bit special because Luke Ferraris has never ridden a winner for me! That was the first one,” Hayes said.
Perfect Team (Deep Impact) delivered for Alexis Badel and Caspar Fownes in the Class 3 Paralympic Value Handicap (1650m). Hong Kong Classic Mile (Listed, 1600m) entrant Talents Ambition (Into Mischief) stole ground late to finish second.
Gluck Racer (Super One arrived just in time to nick the Class 5 Para Table Tennis Handicap (1400m) by a short head over Regency Happy Star (Lonhro) under Harry Bentley for Cody Mo.
Fast Responder (Ten Sovereigns) skipped along the outside fence for a first win in the Class 3 Wheelchair Fencing Handicap (1000m) under apprentice Britney Wong for Douglas Whyte.