Star jockey Zac Purton to put polish on glittering HK record

[Glasgow]

QUEENSLANDER Zac Purton is poised to add another dimension to an extraordinary record when he chases more glory at the star-studded Longines International meeting at Sha Tin.

The Australian is already twice winner of the Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership, ending Douglas Whyte 13-season reign in 2014 and Joao Moreira’s three-year stint last season.

If Purton snares at least two of the four Group 1 races on offer at Sha Tin, he will join Gerald Mosse as the most successful rider at what is regarded as the world turf championships.

Purton rides Exultant in the Vase (2400m), Little Giant — trained by David Hall — in the Sprint (1200m), Beauty Generation in the Mile (1600m) and Time Warp in the Cup (2000m).

Beauty Generation and Time Warp are bidding for successive victories at the meeting and Purton is optimistic the pair can repeat.

“It would be fantastic because it edges me closer to Mosse’s record, I’m only a few wins behind him for the most successful jockey in the history of this weekend,” he said.

Handled by Australian John Moore, Beauty Generation is touted as the probable star of the meeting despite developing a recent habit of lugging out.

“He looks to be better than the rest,” Purton said. “Hopefully he can keep putting the wins on the board.”

Beauty Generation has won five of his past six attempts and broke the course 1600m record last start.

“There’s no fluke to his performances, he goes out there and does it all,” Purton said.

“He can do it on pace, from the back, with big weights and they are the type of horses that stand apart from the rest.”

Purton currently leads the HK premiership with 35 winners, five more than Karis Teetan.

Apart from Purton, Michael Walker, Hugh Bowman, James McDonald, Chad Schofield and Sam Clipperton will also ride at Sha Tin.

The meeting has attracted entries from all over the globe, including Japan, Ireland, France and England.

Chris Waller’s Comin’ Through (Mile) is the sole Australian entrant and will be ridden by Walker.

The Vase features several horses familiar to Australians, including Queensland Derby winners Eagle Way and Ruthven.

Recent Melbourne spring carnival contenders Prince Of Arran (third in the Melbourne Cup), Latrobe (second in the Mackinnon), Rostropovich (fifth in the Melbourne Cup) and Red Verdon are also in contention.

France’s Waldgeist, fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, tops the Vase ratings according Red Verdon’s trainer Ed Dunlop.

The sprint is predicted to be a battle between last season’s winner Mr Stunning, Ivictory, Japan’s Fine Needle, Singapore’s Lim’s Cruiser and John Size’s emerging star Hot King Prawn, an Australian-bred grey who has nine wins from 10 starts.