Zac Purton soared previous one other magic milestone when he grew to become solely the second jockey to succeed in 1,700 Hong Kong wins with a treble at Joyful Valley on Wednesday night time.
The six-time Hong Kong champion jockey took out Wednesday night time’s strongest race, the Class Two Geranium Handicap (1,650m), on Moments In Time earlier than booting residence his 1,700th winner within the subsequent race, the primary part of the Class 4 Freesia Handicap (1,200m), on Copartner Prance.
Purton, who capped his night time by booting residence Sports activities Legend within the final race, the Class Three Oncidium Handicap (1,200m), has Douglas Whyte’s all-time report of 1,813 Hong Kong victories in his sights.
“It’s good to get 1,700 wins – it’s an enormous quantity,” Purton stated. “It’s good to get it on a progressive horse, so hopefully there’s a number of extra wins there. [Whyte’s record] remains to be a approach off. There’s nonetheless a little bit of water to go underneath the bridge but.”
Purton helped Moments In Time proceed his affinity with town circuit, capitalising on a dream run one out and one again to elevate Danny Shum Chap-shing’s gelding to a brief head conquer Outgate.
“It was an excellent effort, he pulled actually onerous by means of the primary half of the race,” Purton stated.
“It wasn’t very best, usually they don’t end off once they pull like that. So, for him to place himself into the race was encouraging for him going ahead.
“He had the race after which he went to throw it away after which he fought for it once more – he’s nonetheless studying, however there’s one thing there.”
A Group One winner in Chile earlier than he was exported to Hong Kong, Moments In Time notched consecutive wins at Joyful Valley after his lacklustre Sha Tin kind thwarted a possible tilt on the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).
“Sadly he didn’t just like the Sha Tin course. I don’t know why,” Shum stated of Moments In Time, who completed no higher than eighth in 4 Sha Tin begins.
“So we got here again [to Happy Valley] and he’s had two wins and two bonuses. I’ll discuss to the proprietor, we’re specializing in Joyful Valley – 1,650m, 1,800m, no downside.”
Shum joined Purton with a treble. He gained the opening race, the Class 5 Flamingo Flower Handicap (2,200m), with Good Birdie courtesy of a prime journey from Jerry Chau Chun-lok earlier than Moments In Time and Sports activities Legend chimed in.
Francis Lui Kin-wai’s Copartner Prance justified $1.6 favouritism when he cruised to a one-and-a-quarter-length victory over My Clever.
The progressive son of Epaulette backed up his first profession success, additionally by the identical margin on March 13.
“He’s nonetheless studying and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s doing a number of issues improper and when he’s in entrance, he’s wanting round,” Purton stated.
Sports activities Legend led all the way in which to beat Vibrant Emperor by three quarters of a size in a powerful show, backing up his dominant win on the similar course and distance on March 20 handy Purton his 91st winner of the season.
Karis Teetan, his nearest rival within the race for the jockeys’ title, boosted his tally to 61 this time period after successful the second part of the Freesia Handicap on Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Golden Hyperlink.
It was Golden Hyperlink’s first win in 913 days and ended a mini-drought for Yiu, whose final victor was Daylight Energy on March 16.
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