Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Purton doubles-up at Sha Tin
Zac Purton moved within touching distance of another remarkable career landmark after a polished Sha Tin double carried the Australian jockey to 1990 wins in Hong Kong.
Already the holder of the city’s all-time riding record, Purton now sits just 10 victories shy of the 2000-win mark after success aboard the Australian-bred duo Invictus Dragon (Blue Point {Ire}) and Smart Avenue (Shamus Award).
Invictus Dragon provided the opening leg in the Class Four Castle Peak Handicap over 1400 metres, with Purton nailing a quiet ride to score aboard the Francis Lui-trained galloper.
Purton weaved his way through the field and Invictus Dragon quickly surged past Lucky Man (NZ) (Shanexpress {NZ}) to score by a length and a quarter.
“Things opened up nicely for me, he deserved to win,” Purton told scmp.com
“Things opened up nicely for me, he (Invictus Dragon) deserved to win.” Zac Purton
“He’s been knocking on the door and with his racing style, it’s always hard. It can easily get away but hopefully he can get some confidence out of it.”
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Lui credited Purton’s persistence with helping unlock the gelding’s first local victory.
“He’s always been knocking on the door. Zac has kept riding him for the last couple of races, he still thought this horse could win the race, and I think now he knows what to do,” Lui told scmp.com
Francis Lui | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Purton completed the double aboard Smart Avenue in the Class Three Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Handicap over the mile distance, where tactical gear changes and targeted trackwork paid dividends.
The son of Shamus Award finished strongly to overpower Amazing Partners (Pierata) late, with trainer Ricky Yiu revealing Purton had played a key role in refining the horse’s racing style.
“He’s got good ability for Class Three and even Class Two, no problem,” Yiu told scmp.com
“The best thing is Zac promised me he would ride this horse. He rode him in the morning and after he first galloped him, he told me, this horse wasn’t hitting the line strongly, so you can try the visor on him and I will join in with the other horse and make him hit the line’. So he galloped him two times to teach him and now you can see, he hit the line very strongly.
“The last few times, he was only beaten a head and he didn’t know what to do, so Zac helped us there.”
“The last few times, he (Smart Avenue) was only beaten a head and he didn’t know what to do, so Zac helped us there.” - Ricky Yiu
Ricky Yiu | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Chau strengthens Tony Cruz Award lead with Sha Tin double
Jerry Chau made the most of limited opportunities to tighten his grip on the Tony Cruz Award race with a riding double at Sha Tin.
The local jockey’s victories aboard Jolly Jumper (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and Effortless Win (Anders) lifted his season tally to a solid 37 wins, extending his advantage over Vincent Ho in the standings for Hong Kong’s leading home-grown rider and the Tony Cruz Award.
“I had only four rides today, but they have ability and the track today is good for our horses. So, I’m very happy to get the job done,” Chau told scmp.com
“I had only four rides today, but they have ability and the track today is good for our horses. So, I’m very happy to get the job done.” Jerry Chau
The first success came aboard Cody Mo-trained Jolly Jumper in the Class Five Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School Handicap over 1400 metres.
Jolly Jumper drew clear to score by a dominant length and a quarter over Superb Guy (Magna Grecia {Ire}), ending a long winning drought.
Mo said gear changes had helped correct the horse’s tendency to hang in under pressure.
“He got the bad habit before of hanging in. So the last few races I just put the one-sided blinkers on and the hanging in problem was solved. This time back to the 1400 metres, I put the visors on to make him concentrate more,” Mo said.
Cody Mo | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Chau completed his double aboard Frankie Lor-trained Effortless Win, who made an immediate impression on his Hong Kong debut in the Class Three Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap over 1200 metres.
The son of Anders had been a winner on a rain-affected track at Doomben, the Australian import handled Sha Tin’s good-to-yielding conditions comfortably. Settled just off the speed, Effortless Win challenged strongly at the 300-metre mark before holding off the fast-finishing Thriving Brothers (Ire) (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
“He trialled a few times in Hong Kong, he had some gate speed. So that’s why I asked Jerry, try to go forward if you can. So he did, similar to the trial and got a little bit lucky and he won the race here,” Lor said.
“I thought he would be close. I was a little bit surprised he won the race because you can see Zac Purton’s horse (Gold Patch) is quite good and his draw of 11 was maybe a little bit difficult for him – so a little bit lucky for me today.”
“I was a little bit surprised he won the race because you can see Zac Purton’s horse (Gold Patch) is quite good and his draw of 11 was maybe a little bit difficult for him – so a little bit lucky for me today.” - Frankie Lor
Frankie Lor | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Patch Of Stars shines as Man lands massive upset
Manfred Man enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Sha Tin, combining with Hugh Bowman to hand Hot Delight (Too Darn Hot {GB}) his first defeat. Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard), which was after his stablemate Real Gentleman (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), produced one of the season’s biggest shocks.
Patch Of Stars continued his rise through the grades in the Class Two Sai Wan Shan Handicap over 1200 metres, swooping late and being strong to deny Crimson Flash (Showtime) after heavily backed favourite Hot Delight faded into fourth.
The previously unbeaten 3-year-old was forced to work early from a wide draw and had little left late as Patch Of Stars charged over the top under Bowman.
“It was a good win, he raced well last time,” Bowman told scmp.com
“It was a good win, he (Patch Of Stars) raced well last time.” - Hugh Bowman
“He appreciated the cushy track, I think he really let down a lot better today, given that. With the track bias, the pace was right on and I was hoping to be a bit closer in the run, but I couldn’t be without being comfortable.
“It proved to be a good call because he was strong at the end.”
Hugh Bowman | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
The win was the sixth of Patch Of Stars’ career win and strengthened the case for a future step into Group company.
Earlier in the afternoon, stablemate Real Gentleman stunned punters in the Class Four Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association Cup over 1200 metres.
Sent out at triple-figure odds, the former Irish galloper raced wide without cover under Derek Leung but still was tenacious when it counted to defeat debutant Grouper (Written By) by half a length.
It marked a dramatic turnaround after six ordinary efforts in Hong Kong.
“Big surprise. I think the track helped a lot and the drop down in the handicap. He drew 12 so it was a very tough win,” Man said.
