Champ Purton goes bang, bang, bang, bang

Champion jockey Zac Purton got off to a brilliant start in the 202425 Hong Kong racing season at Sha Tin racecourse on Sept 8.

- Marc Tan

The Australian, who is gunning for his eighth jockeys' gong and chasing Douglas Whyte's record tally of 1,813 winners, saluted four times in the 10-race programme, on a good to yielding track, which included the HK$3.72 million (S$622,000) HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup Handicap with favourite Ka Ying Rising.

The David Hayes-trained fouryear-old New Zealand-bred gelding, humping a hefty 135lb (61kg) and giving weight to all nine rivals in the Class 11,200m race, always looked the winner as he tracked stablemate Harmony and Blessed (Keagan De Melo) until the turn for home before clearing away from the field in the third event of the afternoon.

The son of Shamexpress (same sire as Kranji star Lim's Saltoro) allayed Purton's pre-race concern about the top impost as he went to the line with 1/4 lengths to spare from the late-closing, Pierre Ng-trained Beauty Waves (Alexis Badel), who had only 115lb on his back.

"No horse has won this race as top weight," Purton had said.

"So, it's a big challenge. Obviously, it's a race that suits those younger horses coming through that are progressive.