Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Purton’s winning run continues
When Douglas Whyte retired from the saddle in February 2019 with a record 1813 Hong Kong wins and 13 Champion Jockey titles, almost no one thought the record would be in danger a scant six years later.
But for those paying attention, Zac Purton announced himself as a contender as early as 2013/14 when he knocked Whyte from his championship run. Purton then won his second title in 2017/18. Purton made it three in a row, winning in 2018/19 and 2019/20, then again in 2021/22 with his fifth title. Six and seven came in the next two seasons, and he’s on track for an eighth this season.
“Two wins is always a good result, but a couple of things didn’t quite go right in races – I had a few people taking me on, making it hard but that’s Hong Kong,” Purton told hkjc.com.
He has been riding in Hong Kong since September 2007. His double on Sunday was on Circuit Jolly (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and Packing Angel (NZ) (Shocking).
Dubai World Cup carnival for Lor
Trainer Frankie Lor will contemplate a bold trip to Dubai with 6-year-old gelding Sword Point (American Pharoah {USA}) after he remained unbeaten on dirt on Sunday. “There is the 2000-metre Group 1 (Dubai World Cup) on April 5 and the 1600-metre Group 2 (Godolphin Mile on March 30) as well, both on the dirt, but I’ll have to speak to Derek (Leung) and see what he thinks,” Lor said.
Sword Point had to survive a steward’s enquiry after jockey Andrea Atzeni stated that Caspar Fownes-trained runner-up Capital Delight (Capitalist) clipped the winner’s heels at the top of the straight. “When the steward told me there was an objection, I didn’t know why, but I saw something happened at the turn when I watched it back. But we won by a good margin and I didn’t think (Capital Delight) would win.”
“I’m not sure yet (on which Dubai race) because I think 1600 metres might be a bit short for him. Sword Point likes the dirt so we will see if his rating is enough to go to Dubai. Maybe we need to race again to get more points.”
Sword Point has won six of his 32 starts, with two wins in Australia and third in the G2 Tulloch S. before arrival in Hong Kong. A $750,000 purchase by Chris Waller Racing and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock from Coolmore Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he now has earnings over HK$15.1 million (AU$3.1 million).
Gallery: Images courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
He is a son of Group 3 winner Jazz Song (Fastnet Rock) whose Home Affairs filly is Lot 537 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Jazz Song is a daughter of Group 1 winner Absolut Glam (Snowland).
Packing Angel spruiked for Classic series
Jockey Zac Purton believes 4-year-old gelding Packing Angel (NZ) (Shocking) has what it takes for the Classic series including the prestigious Hong Kong Derby after his win over 1400 metres on Sunday at Sha Tin. He’s now won two in succession with five starts in total.
“He’s got a long way to go on ratings, but he’s a young horse on the way up. He’s improving all the time, and it was a pretty soft win in the end. There’s a bit more there,” Purton said.
Trainer Francis Lui was more circumspect. “I think he’ll get maybe six or seven points and be (rated) around 70, so maybe he won’t make the Classic Mile. But he could go to the other 4-year-old series races if he keeps progressing. He’s a nice horse. He’s young and keeps improving,” Lui said.
The Hong Kong Classic Mile is run at Sha Tin on January 31 and is followed by the Hong Kong Classic Cup on March 2, and the Hong Kong Derby on March 23.
Zac Purton guides Packing Angel to victory at Sha Tin | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Packing Angel was purchased by Bay Of Plenty Bloodstock as a weanling at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale from Westend Bloodstock for NZ$11,000 and was on-sold at the NZB National Yearling Sale by Cambria Park for NZ$160,000 to Tartan Meadow Bloodstock. A trial winner in New Zealand in January 2024, he was exported to Hong Kong where he’s done all his racing.
By Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Packing Angel is one of four winners for Out Of The Barn (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret {GB}). The unraced Out Of The Barn is a half-sister to Listed winner Conspectus (Woodman {USA}) whose full sister Laetitia is the dam of Group 3 winner and G1 Golden Slipper-placed Stryker who went to stud, and of stakes-placed Seeking Attention (Exceed And Excel), the dam of Listed winner Buckinghamshire (Lonhro). Out Of The Barn’s final foal is an unraced 3-year-old full sister to Packing Angel named Out Of The Picture (NZ).
Chris So has a couple of 'good ones'
Hong Lok Golf (Grunt {NZ}) stayed unbeaten in winning at his second start on Sunday. “He's a good horse. He drew wide (gate nine) and I didn't think there was much pace in the race, so I was worried. But he showed he's a good horse. He was three-wide all the way. It was impressive. I expected him to run a good race, but I wasn't confident,” trainer Chris So said.
“Those horses (Hong Lok Golf and The Boom Box) when I bought them, I expected them to be good horses - especially this one. It seems like I've got a couple of good ones.”
Hong Lok Golf was bought by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $60,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from Yulong, who stand Grunt (NZ). Hong Lok Golf is the third foal of unraced Sky Island (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who is a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Maraahel (Ire) (Alzao {USA}) who ran third in the G1 Hong Kong Cup with five other Group 1 placings. Sky Island has an unraced 3-year-old filly by Alabama Express, an unraced 2-year-old filly by Alabama Express, and a yearling colt by Lucky Vega (Ire).
Chris So | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Boom Box (Spirit Of Boom) won for So on New Year’s Day and is also unbeaten in two starts. Purchased by WBF Thoroughbreds Pinhook Partnership for $65,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, The Boom Box was passed in as a 2-year-old at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale. He is the second foal of Token Of Love (Al Maher) who won six races and placed in the G2 Matriarch S. She has missed the last two seasons.
G3 January Cup headlines Wednesday
Wednesday’s meeting at Happy Valley will feature the G3 January Cup over 1800 metres. A field of 12 has been assembled for the 2025 edition. Last year’s winner Happy Together (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) is back for another attempt for trainer Frankie Lor who also has Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax (NZ}), who won the race in 2023, and Flamingo Trillion (Wandjina) in the field.
Tony Cruz also has three runners, and all are highly rated, being Five G Patch (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), La City Blanche (Arg) (Cityscape {GB}), and The Golden Scenery (Deep Field).
