Purton chases HK win No 1,900

After describing Ka Ying Rising’s win in Saturday’s Grade 1 The Everest over 1200m as “the biggest moment of his career”, Zac Purton will chase another landmark today as he searches for an astonishing 1,900th Hong Kong win with seven rides at Happy Valley.

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Purton, 42, has the most wins in Hong Kong racing history (1,899) after bettering Douglas Whyte’s longstanding mark of 1,813 last season. The Australian rider, an eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey and leader of the 2025/26 title race by 13 wins over Hugh Bowman (21-8), reunites with Horsepower in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 The Longines Cup Handicap (1000m) from barrier No 3 for trainer Frankie Lor.

“He's done a really good job and all of his best runs have been at Happy Valley over 1000 metres. When he’s ventured outside of that, he’s been a little bit disappointing, but he’s his own creator of bad habits - he wants to over-race, hang and do things wrong. Over 1000 they run along and it gets him off the bit and into a nice rhythm,” Purton said.

Horsepower is a three-time winner over 1000m from six career starts in Hong Kong. The 88-rated son of Harry Angel has trialled twice ahead of his seasonal bow.