Purton reaches 1,800-win milestone with Sha Tin treble
Zac Purton became only the second jockey to ride 1,800 winners in Hong Kong with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday as the Australian moved to within 13 wins of Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813 wins.
Completing a superb week, Purton combined with John Size to win the second section of the Lung Fu Shan Handicap (1400m) on Endeared (Dark Angel) and the Class 4 Ho Chung Handicap (1200m) on Masterofmyuniverse (Havana Grey) before closing out the final meeting of the year with victory on Benno Yung’s Tourbillon Prince (Rommel) in the Class 3 Eagle’s Nest Handicap (1400m).
With nine wins from his past 18 rides, the seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey has hurtled to 60 wins for the season to lead Hugh Bowman (26) and Vincent Ho (21) after 33 of 88 scheduled meetings.
“Obviously there’s a lot of pride in reaching 1,800,” Purton said. “But it just comes down to the opportunities and support I get and I can’t do anything without that.
“I’ve been very lucky in my time here – I never thought I would get to this number, but I’m after another one (1,813) now, so I’ve got to keep going. But it’s nice. It’s very satisfying.
“Being so close to the bigger number [Whyte’s record] is going to overshadow this one, of course, but it’s been a good end of the year and hopefully we can start next year just as well.”
Riding in supreme form, Purton, 41, posted a record-equalling six-timer at Happy Valley on 26 November.
Mark Newnham will target Hong Kong’s lucrative 2400-metre races with Bravehearts (Cityscape) after the former Argentine stayer continued an outstanding season with victory in the Class 2 Buffalo Bill Handicap (2000m).
Posting his third win from four starts this campaign, Bravehearts is likely to be set for the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) on May 4 with the possibility of a tilt at the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) on May 25.
Winner of the 2022 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (Gr 1, 2400m) in Argentina, Bravehearts (118lb) was ridden patiently by Matthew Poon before emerging at the top of the straight to down Winning Dragon (Ivan Denisovich) by a length, with another length to three-year-old Romantic Thor (Justify) who showcased his BMW Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) credentials with a brave third.
“He’s [Bravehearts] in really good form. He keeps improving, he appreciated getting back to 2000m today and down the bottom of the weights,” Newnham said.
“Matthew’s rides on him all the way through have been ten-out-of-ten.
“It’ll be a while until we get the opportunity, but even once he gets further than 2000 metres, I’m sure he’ll improve again. Looking way ahead, you’d think the Queen Mother Memorial (Cup) later in the season, 2400 metres, would be more to his liking. But good we’ve got him to this level now and hopefully he can continue to improve.”
Newnham is second overall in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 24 wins, trailing only Pierre Ng (26).
Poon vaulted into fifth place in the jockeys’ championship after sealing a double on Tony Cruz-trained Super Fortune (Zoustar) in the Class 3 Butterfly Bay Handicap (1000m) and also believes Bravehearts will be even better over extended trips.
“I love him so much, he has improved every start with his mental approach, his fitness and I can’t wait to see him at 2400 metres,” Poon said. “He’s quite a relaxed horse, finds his feet and you wait for the right time for him to go and he will run for you. So, I think 2400 metres will be even better.
“I’m really lucky I can ride this horse for Mark and the owner Mr Yue, he gives me lots of support even from when I started and also Mark has given me such a beautiful horse to ride. I can’t thank them enough.”
Romantic Thor impressed after being caught wide early and finished stoutly under Alexis Pouchin, while fellow BMW Hong Kong Derby aspirant Naval Force (Churchill) charged from the rear of the field – clocking a race-best 11.88 for the final 200 metres – to finish seventh, beaten three lengths.
Britney Wong partnered Manfred Man’s Jolly Companion (All Too Hard) to victory in the Class 4 Luk Keng Handicap (1200m, dirt), marking the apprentice’s second win on the gelding and her sixth overall in Hong Kong.
“Three rides on him and we’ve already got two wins together, so that’s good,” Wong said. “He’s a lovely horse, very straight-forward. He always likes to be forward, rolling and leading by himself and that’s a ride that suits me.”
Luke Ferraris extended a fruitful season, notching his 18th win of the term, by landing the first section of the Lung Fu Shan Handicap (1400m) for Jimmy Ting aboard The Absolute (Satono Aladdin).
“I thought the horse had a bit of a chance even though he wasn’t 100 per cent,” Ting said. “He is a nice horse but before he could not breathe. After the surgery he is much better. I think he can win more races and later a longer distance will be better.”
Antoine Hamelin struck on Michael Chang-trained Cosmo Navigator (Darci Brahma) in the Class 5 Port Shelter Handicap (1000m) before Alexis Badel combined with David Eustace to claim the Class 5 Turtle Cove Handicap (1400m) onboard Regency Happy Star (Lonhro).
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day.