Size and Purton prove the Premier combination
Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) runner-up Tuchel (Redwood) confirmed the promise of that performance and five wins from his previous 14 starts to capture the Premier Plate Handicap (Gr 3, 1800m) at Sha Tin yesterday.
Trainer John Size and jockey Zac Purton combined to win the feature over nine furlongs and final Group race of the Hong Kong season with the gelding on an afternoon which saw their inexorable march to further championship success continue apace.
They earlier teamed to win the Premier Cup Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) with Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) and later won the Class 3 Lapis Lazuli Handicap (1200m) with the promising Helios Express (Toronado) who was having his second start in Hong Kong.
The stakes race double and success with Helios Express has Size, with 71 wins for the season, nine clear of his nearest rival Franke Lor in the quest to win the trainer’s championship for a record 12th time.
Purton’s three wins with Size and Class 4 Emerald Handicap (1200m) victory on Greenwich (War Decree) and Class 3 Sapphire Handicap (1400m) victory on Taj Dragon (Mehmas) took his season tally to 160, and while a sixth jockey’s title was already assured, given his margin over second placed Vincent Ho and the number of races remaining, yesterday’s winners do increase his prospects of breaking Joao Moreira’s record single season tally of 170 winners.
“I think that [the slow pace] helped him as he’s a little suspect at the 1800 metres and today he had the weight advantage against the others and he’s got a good turn of foot so that played into our hands,’ Purton said of Tuchel.
Tuchel began smartly for the champion rider and momentarily shared the pace with Packing Award (Shamus Award) before Purton opted to take the sit behind that rival while the Tony Cruz-trained runner-up The Best Peach (Twilight Sun) was much further astern, settling last in the field of the seven.
The Best Peach, ridden by Alexis Badel who won the race last year on Tourbillon Diamond (Olympic Glory), ran the quickest last 400 metres but the bird had flown and he could do no more than cut the winner’s margin to a half-length and the honours were with the favourite.
“He [Tuchel] has been terrific all season. He’s had some hard runs, he’s turned up and continues to get better and John [Size] has done a great job with him. It’s been a nice day. They’re both nice progressive four-year-olds and hopefully they can take another step next season,” Purton said referring to both Tuchel and Beauty Eternal.
Purton was reminded post-race that he will join the revered Tony Cruz on that number of Hong Kong jockey titles.
“It’s good to be held in any company with him. He’s certainly a legend and with every championship you’re faced with different obstacles and none of them are ever easy and I appreciate this one as much as the others,” Purton said.
Karis Teetan started the day in great style winning the first two races, the second seeing him reach the milestone of 600 wins in Hong Kong.
Teetan, who missed almost three months of racing due to a thyroid related illness late in 2022, won the first section of the Class 4 Ruby Handicap (1400m) on River Views (Written Tycoon) for Benno Yung before claiming the Class 5 Spessartine Garnet Handicap (1600m) on Superb Daddy (Tavistock) for Me Tsui.
“It’s good, of course it’s nice to always pick up the numbers but I don’t usually worry about the numbers too much. I just try to ride as many winners as I can. Without the owners and trainers support it’s not easy to do it so thanks to all of the connections. I just hope it keeps going now,” Teetan said.
Purton’s third win on Greenwich and fifth win on Taj Dragon completed a treble for trainer Pierre Ng who earlier won the Class 4 The Racing Club 15th Anniversary Cup (2000m) with Billionaire Secret (Slade Power) who was ridden by Vincent Ho.
“Yes, he was impressive. He’s still very green at just his second run. We were hoping he’d improved a length or two on his first run. He’s still got a lot to learn and hopefully he will be a better horse next season,” Ng said of Greenwich.
So Awesome (Rip Van Winkle) surprised at odds of 31/-1 in the second section of the Class 4 Ruby Handicap (1400m) under Alexis Badel for Manfred Man.
Beauty Charge (Havana Gold) landed the Topaz Handicap (1200m) with jockey Matthew Chadwick for trainer Tony Cruz.