THE PURTON BRAND DOING AUSTRALIA PROUD

By Darren Winningham | Friday, December 5, 2025

As per usual, HRO's Darren Winningham will jet off to Hong Kong this weekend to cover the Longines International Jockeys' Championship and the Longines Hong Kong International Races for the horseracingonly website. His stories will be varied and covering both on the track action and off track points of interest. Here he talks with pride about a champion who is doing Australia proud.

There’s something special about seeing one of our own flying the flag overseas — and when it comes to horse racing, Zac Purton is that flag-bearer. From his early days in Lismore, New South Wales, to becoming Hong Kong’s undisputed king of the saddle, Purton has taken Australian grit and determination and turned it into international dominance.

As an Aussie racing supporter, watching the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) every December has become almost a tradition — a chance to see the world’s best horses, trainers, and jockeys converge at Sha Tin Racecourse for one glorious afternoon of Group 1 showdowns. And at the centre of it all, there’s always that familiar green and gold connection — Zac Purton.

It is easy to forget just how far Purton’s come. From riding at small Australian meetings to stepping onto the world stage in Hong Kong, his rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

Since his move there in 2007, he has become a record-breaking eight-time Champion Jockey, with another record breaking more than 1,900 Hong Kong winners to his name as of October 2025.

When he first arrived, he was the young Aussie trying to crack one of the toughest circuits in the world. Today, he is the benchmark — the man other jockeys measure themselves against.

For fans back home, the HKIR is like the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, and The Everest rolled into one — except with runners and riders from Japan, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia all in the mix.

It’s held every December at Sha Tin, and the atmosphere is electric.

The event features four elite Group 1 races: The Hong Kong Cup (2000 m). The Hong Kong Mile (1600 m). The Hong Kong Sprint (1200 m) and the Hong Kong Vase (2400 m).

For Purton, these races have become his stage. He’s already claimed 12 HKIR Group 1 wins — the most by any jockey in Hong Kong’s history. And every year, you can sense that hunger for one more.

He will partner two key contenders, including Ka Ying Rising in the LONGINES Sprint — the horse that carried him to so much glory in 2024 and recently conquered The Everest on the world stage in Australia. He will ride Voyage Bubble in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

There is a saying in racing that behind every great jockey stands someone even stronger. In Hong Kong, that’s certainly true of Zac and Nicole Purton, the Australian power couple who have become one of the city’s most recognisable duos — both on and off the track.

For more than 15 years, Zac has been the face of Hong Kong racing - the calm, calculating champion whose name dominates the Sha Tin leaderboard year after year. But talk to anyone who knows him, and they will tell you, Nicole has been every bit as vital to his success story.

Nicole, meanwhile, has become a familiar face in Hong Kong media circles. She has worked as a presenter, charity ambassador, and racing commentator, often giving fans a glimpse behind the scenes of her husband’s demanding world. Her charm, professionalism, and understanding of the sport have made her a respected figure in her own right.

Together, they’re not just a racing couple — they are a brand.

Whether appearing at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, charity events, or media launches, they embody the glamour and grit of Hong Kong racing.

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