PURTON DOWNPLAYS HIS CHANCES

By Tim Clayton | Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Jockey Zac Purton believes he has his work cut out in his bid for a fourth success in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (December 6) and he has also downplayed his chances in Sunday’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR).

Purton previously won the IJC in 2017, 2020 and 2021 and in 2022 he created history by becoming the first rider to claim ten individual HKIR victories when he partnered California Spangle to victory in the Hong Kong Mile, giving him a strike-rate on the big day that is second to none.

Purton is only one of four riders in the HKIR history to win each of the December feature races. He joins an elite group of jockeys ... Gerald Mosse, Joao Moreira, and Ryan Moore ... who have achieved this accolade previously.

Speaking at the IJC press conference on Tuesday night Purton said, “I don’t have confidence, I don’t think my horses are very strong, I think it’s going to be difficult. I’ve got good gates so hopefully they can be competitive”.

“There are always obstacles in Hong Kong, sometimes it’s the wrong distance, horse not fit or in the right form. Lots of things go into it, every year is challenging, so hopefully I can ride a winner.”

With his record, would you really count him out?

Purton believes that his best chance on at the HKIR on Sunday is the Manfred Man trained Lucky Sweynesse who will contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1) worth HK$26 million.

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