Fresh off his remarkable success aboard Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, on Saturday, Zac Purton already has another milestone in his sights.
Purton, who broke Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 Hong Kong wins in January, sits one shy of 1,900 heading to tonight’s meeting at Happy Valley. But, in true Purton style, he already has his eyes on reaching a mammoth 2,000 victories in the city.
“It’s a big number isn’t it,” Purton told The Standard. “It will be good to get to 1,900 and then we’ll get our head down and try to get to 2,000. Having that number in your mind definitely helps to give me something to think about for the season.”
Purton was still on a high after Ka Ying Rising’s monumental win at Royal Randwick and was even signing photos of the world’s highest-rated sprinter for a couple of fans after yesterday morning’s barrier trials. “It was such a great day and it was brilliant to see everyone from Hong Kong get behind him,” Purton said.
The eight-time champion jockey takes a strong book of seven rides to Happy Valley, including the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained South Star, who makes his first start at the city track in the eighth race of the day. The four-year-old will step up to 1,650 meters for the first time.
“He’s by Wrote and they seem to do well at the Valley,” Purton said.
“He’s got a bad habit at Sha Tin of wanting to overrace, so going to the Valley – where there’s an extra couple of turns and the speed can be more genuine – might just help him get into a better rhythm.
“He’s certainly capable and if he gets the right run, there’s no reason why he can’t run very well like he has been at Sha Tin.”
jack.dawling@singtaonewscorp.com
