Zac Purton has ridden Hong Kong’s globetrotters to success all over the world – from Little Bridge’s ground-breaking triumph in the 2012 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, to Military Attack’s Singapore Airlines International Cup and Aerovelocity’s Group 1 double in Japan and Singapore.
This week, Hong Kong’s eight-time champion jockey – the most successful rider in the city’s history after surpassing Douglas Whyte’s all-time wins record last season – returns to his old hometown of Sydney, 18 years after leaving for Sha Tin.
Purton will ride Ka Ying Rising – the sprinting sensation that has won 13 straight races, including an unbeaten 2024/25 season that saw him crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year. He is now short-priced favorite for the world’s richest turf sprint, The Everest (1200 meters) at Royal Randwick, worth A$20 million (HK$102m).
It could be a glorious homecoming for the proud Australian but Purton insists this moment isn’t about him.
“This is more about the horse,” he says. “I’ve ridden a lot of good horses in my time and I know how good I think he is. Now I want him to show everyone on race day what the real Ka Ying Rising’s like.”
Purton returned to Sydney last week to ride Ka Ying Rising in a barrier trial that was highly scrutinized – and that the jockey himself thought was "below-par". Since then, the unbeaten galloper has restored confidence with a sharp track gallop under the watchful eye of trainer David Hayes and a glowing appearance that suggests he is ready to run to his best against Australia’s top sprinters.
“Obviously there are doubters from the trial – understandably so,” Purton says. “It was a below-par trial for him. But he needed the hit-out, he’s had that now, he’s had more time to go through his preparation. David’s very happy with him. We’ve got a good draw, the race sets up well for him. So now it’s his chance to show everyone what he can do.”
Only two Hong Kong-trained horses have ever won in Australia out of 50 starters – Cape Of Good Hope in 2005 and Romantic Warrior in 2023 – but Purton is unfazed by the statistics.
“Probably we haven’t seen our best horses there historically, so it’s not a fair line to rule,” he says. “But I’d like to think our best horses can match up with the other elite horses around here – and I’ve got no doubt that Ka Ying Rising is up to the challenge.”
At 42, with eight championships, world-class achievements and Hong Kong’s record books already rewritten, Purton’s focus has narrowed to the nearing summit and his belief in one horse.
“I’ve got so much confidence in him,” he says. “Now it’s his chance to show everyone what he can really do.”
