Zac Purton

Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup glory for Butterfield at Sha Tin

Posted on May 3, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Danny Shum’s quest for a maiden Hong Kong trainers’ championship is likely to feature a double-handed tilt at the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in three weeks after the trainer led home a memorable quinella in the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) with Butterfield and Charity Fun at[...]

Posted on May 1, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Charity Fun (113lb) has already made a remarkable start to his burgeoning Hong Kong career and this Sunday (2 May) at Sha Tin the War Command gelding will be put to the test with his toughest assignment to date when he lines up against 11 opponents in the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap[...]

Posted on April 29, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

On a night of milestones, Zac Purton registered a century of winners in a Hong Kong season for the sixth time to maintain hopes of overtaking Joao Moreira in the race for the 2020/21 jockeys’ championship with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday (28 April). The Australian brought up his 100th winner of the[...]

Posted on April 23, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Amazing Star caused one of the biggest feature-race shocks in Hong Kong racing history when he landed the Group 2 Sprint Cup (1200m) earlier this month, and this Sunday (25 April) at Sha Tin the six-year-old bay is out to prove that his effort was no fluke when he contests the HK$18 million Group 1[...]

Posted on April 22, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Stationed in a high-rise hotel overlooking Happy Valley racecourse during an obligatory three-week quarantine period, Harry Bentley capitalised on unorthodox track research by making a perfect debut at the city circuit at Wednesday (21 April) night’s meeting by winning the Class 3 Pottinger Handicap (2200m) on Vincy. Making light of the quirky track’s undulations and[...]

Posted on April 15, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Charity Fun is now a three-time winner from five starts in Hong Kong. Charity Fun has earned a tilt at the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) next month after overcoming mid-race difficulties to continue Zac Purton and Danny Shum’s burgeoning coalition with victory in the Class 2 Cedar Handicap (1800m) at Happy[...]

Posted on April 13, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Exultant, the tough kingpin of Hong Kong’s staying division, took a crucial step closer in his bid to become the second horse in history – after Eishin Preston in 2003 – to successfully defend his crown in Sunday week’s (25 April) HK$25 million Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) with a smart trial effort at[...]

Posted on April 7, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Zac Purton will reunite with familiar ally Saul’s Special in the Class 3 Cooper Handicap (1000m) for a rare Thursday night (8 April) meeting at Happy Valley, hopeful of not only enhancing his remarkable record aboard the galloper, but with the possibility of snaring trainer Michael Chang’s 300th Hong Kong win. Purton has three wins,[...]

Posted on April 1, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Zac Purton’s pursuit of a fifth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship has continued with a Sha Tin quartet, capped by the success of Glorious Artist in the Class 2 Cuckoo Handicap (dirt, 1650m), as the Australia reduced Joao Moreira’s still imposing lead to 18. With a dead-heat on Lucky Fun and outright victories aboard Hang’s Decision[...]

Posted on March 31, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Classique Legend, acclaimed as the world’s equal top sprinter in 2020, is likely to return to Australia after he bled from his left nostril following trackwork at Sha Tin this morning (Wednesday, 31 March). The winner of The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse last October, the grey finished 11th in the Group 1 LONGINES Hong[...]

Posted on March 29, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Paul O’Sullivan’s decision to embark on a remedial course in barrier manners for Duke Wai paid rich dividends when the reformed gelding landed the Class 2 Hoi Ha Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (28 March). Frustrated by the five-year-old’s habit of botching starts, O’Sullivan requested permission to use a blindfold on the chestnut[...]

Posted on March 25, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Brazilian jockey success in Hong Kong is overwhelmingly Joao Moreira’s domain but at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (24 March), Ruan Maia posted one of the most significant – and relief-laden – victories of his career with a memorable breakthrough triumph. Eight meetings and 44 rides into his Hong Kong stint, Maia logged his first[...]

Posted on March 24, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Classique Legend has taken another significant step towards a competitive return with a blistering 1000m trial victory at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning (23 March) as Francis Lui indicated the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile on 25 April was Golden Sixty’s likely next objective. Rated the world’s equal-top sprinter in the year-ending 2020 LONGINES World’s[...]

Posted on March 21, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Accustomed to success in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m), Joao Moreira and Tony Millard both contend this year’s Classic is likely to be contested at a leisurely tempo, paving the way for a sit-sprint finale at Sha Tin today (21 March). Millard, who will chase a third Derby triumph with Panfield and Maximus, and Moreira,[...]

Posted on March 19, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

David Hayes hopes timing counts for everything when dual Group 1 winner Shadow Hero bids for Hong Kong Derby (2000m) success at Sha Tin on Sunday (21 March). Placed twice from four starts in Hong Kong, the highly vaunted Australian import will attempt to provide Hayes with his second Derby triumph following filly Elegant Fashion’s[...]

Posted on March 10, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News, New Zealand Horse Racing News

Douglas Whyte is optimistic a remedial course in barrier manners will spark a performance transformation in Rainbow Light when the Irish import tackles the first section of Class 4 Po Loi Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley tonight (Wednesday 10 March). Beaten 31 and a half lengths when last behind Pakistan Friend at Sha Tin in[...]

Posted on March 8, 2021
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Flagship Glory has edged into BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) calculations with an impressive staying performance at Sha Tin yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 7 March) as Zac Purton continued a withering mid-season charge with a treble, leaving the Australian with eight wins from the past two meetings. Impressed by Flagship Glory’s ability to overcome a sluggish[...]

Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup glory for Butterfield at Sha Tin

Charity Fun ready to roll for Hong Kong Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup

Zac Purton logs 100th winner of the season in Hong Kong

Amazing Star aims to prove he’s no fluke in Chairman’s Sprint Prize

Harry Bentley conquers Happy Valley on first ride at the city circuit

Charity Fun overcomes trouble to earn a crack at Group company

Exultant builds towards FWD QEII Cup defence, trials on the turf

Purton pairs with veteran Saul’s Special as Chang nears 300 career Hong Kong wins

Purton makes inroads into Moreira’s championship lead with a four-timer

Classique Legend setback, likely to return to Australia

Barrier manners do the trick for Duke Wai in the Sha Tin feature

Ruan Maia celebrates breakthrough success at Happy Valley

Classique Legend dazzles in trial as Lui mulls Champions Mile for Golden Sixty

Hong Kong Derby likely to be run at moderate pace

Shadow Hero ready to peak, Conqueror expected to improve for Derby

Douglas Whyte hopes barrier lessons will help Rainbow Light deliver

Flagship Glory surges into Hong Kong Derby discussions

Connect with Racing Online