Zac Purton dominates Happy Valley with superb five-timer
The deficit remains confronting, but Zac Purton breathed life into flickering hopes of a successful jockeys’ championship defence with a stunning quintet at Happy Valley yesterday evening to capitalise on Joao Moreira’s suspension.
Posting his first five-timer for the 2020/21 season, Purton cut Moreira’s margin to 25 after triumphing on Wood On Fire (Per Incanto), Hurry Hurry Gain (Press Statement), Ever Force (Toronado) and John Size-trained pair Wealthy Delight (Lord Kanaloa) and Wind N Grass (Lawman).
It is the eighth time Purton has registered five wins at a Hong Kong meeting and the first time he has accomplished the feat since May 6, 2020.
Such was Purton’s dominance, only four other jockeys savoured success on Wednesday night, including Karis Teetan, whose mount Farshad (Kendargent) denied Purton, aboard hot favourite Savaquin (Savabeel), a sixth win on the final race of the nine-event program.
Chasing his fifth jockeys’ title, the Australian boosted his tally to 70 – still well adrift of Moreira (95), who is serving a two-meeting suspension for careless riding, with 37 meetings left in the season.
“It was a nice night, I had a few opportunities and a little bit of luck,” Purton said.
“Luck goes a long way. It’s not easy to do (to ride five winners), just to ride one winner in Hong Kong is hard to do.
“Hopefully things can start to roll along a bit more. I’m not doing anything different – right place, right time – that’s all.”
Ever Force, a lightly-built son of Toronado (High Chaparral), registered a second successive win with a gritty effort in the second section of the Class 4 Matheson Handicap (1200m), drawing praise from Purton.
“It was a good tough effort from him. He was out on his feet at the 150 metres, he did a good job to keep galloping along to get the result,” he said.
“When he came into the straight, he was off balance and not responding but I think his class got him through.
“It’s not easy for three-year-olds to do that and he’s very small and had to carry top-weight as well – it was a good effort.”
Shum was similarly taken.
“He’s a nice horse, only small but he’s got a big heart. As a three-year-old, carrying top weight is a big challenge. We’ll send him to Conghua now to give him a short break and then hopefully he can win in Class 3,” Shum said.
Lor is optimistic Hurry Hurry Gain can advance through the grades after a hollow success in the first section of the Class 4 Matheson Handicap (1200m).
Given a perfect ride by Purton, the Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) gelding cruised to the line under a hold by win by one and three-quarter lengths from Sprint Forward (Lope de Vega) and Fortune Hero (Starspangledbanner) at just his second start in Hong Kong.
“He ran really well over 1000 metres at his first start and I thought he would like it a little further,” Lor said.
“I had trialled him at Happy Valley already, so I knew there would be no problems but he drew barrier nine – the jockey did a great job. I asked Zac (Purton) to settle forward in the run and he did a great job.
“I think he has good potential. The horse has a good pedigree and I liked the trial video before he came to Hong Kong. He’s not a big horse, but he’s quite strong – I think he’s a nice horse.”
Purton agreed.
“We had to do some work to get the spot (behind the leaders) but what I liked is that he relaxed mid-race and then when it was time to go again in the straight, he picked up and put them away,” Purton said.
“I think he’s a progressive horse and he’s a bit unassuming. I think he’ll be looking after himself a little bit – he did well.”
Alex Lai notched his second win of the season and the first of the year when Manfred Man-trained All Best Friends (Street Cry) stormed to victory in the Class 5 Tin Lok Handicap (1650m).
Having his 133rd mount for the 2020/21 season, Lai was understandably delighted to partner his first winner since Moon Peaks (Choisir) on December 26.
“I didn’t want to push too hard early because the 1650 metres is too far for him,” Lai said.
“He did his best – it was a good win,” he added.
Dynamic Eagle (Guillotine) continued a rich vein of form for Shum and Badel, posting his third win in four starts by landing the Class 4 Percival Handicap (1800m). All three wins by the son of Guillotine (Montjeu) have come this season at the city circuit.
Caspar Fownes and Vincent Ho teamed up with Nunchuks (O’Reilly) to claim the Class 4 Morrison Hill Handicap (1650m) before Teetan and Me Tsui produced Farshad in the first section of the Class 3 Canal Handicap (1650m).
Shum and Size shared the training honours with a double. Size leads the trainers’ title 49-47 over Fownes.
Hong Kong racing continues this Sunday (7 March) at Sha Tin.