Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Sha Tin treble for Purton as Patch Of Stars demonstrates class
The talented Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard) brought up his fifth career victory and second for the season for trainer Manfred Man when capturing the seventh race, the Class 2 Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap, on the Sha Tin card on Saturday.
Jumping from barrier nine, the gelding was given an expert steer by Zac Purton to take up the box seat position, before finishing strongly in the 1200-metre event by a neck over Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible).
“It’s a little bit awkward because tactically he’s a tricky horse,” Purton said ahead of the run. “You can’t hustle him to get a position and then expect him to relax. He needs to float into a position. So it’s an awkward gate for him.”
It was a step up in grade for Patch Of Stars, who had won a Class 3 last start over the same distance, having run a below par race on his seasonal resumption the start before over 1400 metres.
“It was his first run in Class 2 and he was drawn stall nine, so before I was a bit worried about him being wide,” said Man, who trained a double on Saturday courtesy of visiting English jockey Holly Doyle’s victory on Double Win (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) earlier on the card.
“I think 1200 metres is good for him, because in the Class 3 1400 metres, he was favourite twice and was only second and sixth. Back at 1200 metres, he won a Class 3 and was promoted (to Class 2) today and won again, so I think it’s the best distance for him.”
“Back at 1200 metres, he (Patch Of Stars) won a Class 3 and was promoted (to Class 2) today and won again, so I think it’s the best distance for him.” - Manfred Man
The Classic Series over a mile might be off the menu, but there is plenty in store for the gelding over sprint trips. The win took Patch Of Stars’ total earnings to over HK$6.8 million (AU$1.34 million), half of which has been earned this season alone.
A son of All Too Hard bred by Gerry Harvey, he is one of four winners for Tuscany Lady (Mossman), a half-sister to the stakes performers Metonymy (Hotel Grand) and Love Shack Baby (All Too Hard). Tuscany Lady has a yearling filly by Best Of Bordeaux and visited All Too Hard again in September of this season.
Riversley Park and Michael Guerin paid $100,000 for Patch Of Stars at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale out of Baramul Stud’s draft, then reoffered him at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where he was secured by Kin Man Yeung for NZ$800,000.
Purton’s championship lead extended
The win was the middle leg of a treble for Purton as well as a race-to-race double, having won the sixth and 10th races on the card as well. Purton, who had partnered Patch Of Stars to all four of his previous wins, extended his jockey championship lead to 22 wins at the close of Saturday’s raceday.
Purton opened his account for the evening with Supreme Agility (Brz) (Setembro Chove {Brz}) in the Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery Heirloom Fortune Collection Handicap over a mile, and bookended it with victory in the Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Night Banquet In Tang Palace Collection Handicap on Beauty Bolt (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
The eight-time champion jockey was enjoying the international competition provided by the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship and the Hong Kong International Races, with the lead-up meeting for the latter scheduled for next weekend.
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“It’s always good to have (the world’s best riders) here,” Purton said. “I always learn something when I’m riding with them and watching them more closely. We’ve been riding against each other for a number of years now so it’s good to catch up with them. Obviously, we have the rivalry on the track, but off the track, we all get along very well.”
“It’s always good to have (the world’s best riders) here. I always learn something when I’m riding with them and watching them more closely.” -Zac Purton
British exports Doyle and champion jockey Richard Kingscote also struck in the 10-race meeting, the latter scoring his first win of the season after a string of placings.
“I’ve had lots of horses running well and the trainers and owners have been supporting me, to be fair, letting me keep riding a lot of the horses, but it’s nice to finally get a win on the board,” Kingscote said after steering home Loch Tay (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) for David Eustace.
Purton currently sits on 37 wins for the season, with Luke Ferraris in second place on 15 and Hugh Bowman nipping at his heels with 13. Australia’s leading jockey James McDonald, who has been granted a Hong Kong license until December 23, scored two seconds at Saturday’s meet.
