Zac Purton Nears 2,000 Career Wins in Hong Kong with Triple Success

Zac Purton closed in on a remarkable 2,000 career wins in Hong Kong on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, taking out his rivals in his first three races of the day.

The Australian jockey guided Flying Amani to a thrilling victory over Perfecto Moments in the Class Five Digital Assets Handicap. Settled towards the back of the pack, the pair surged between horses to get up by a shorthead in a desperate finish, with Soaring Bronco coming home third.

There was less drama about Purton’s second win of the day in the Class Four Sustainable Finance Handicap, with the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained Come Fast Fay Fay smashing out to the early lead and never being headed – a classic, perfectly judged ride by the champion jockey.

Purton edged to within two and made it three wins from three rides on the day with another peach, this time aboard Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Packing King in the Class Four Corporate & Investment Banking Handicap. Sitting on leader Jolly Brilliant’s shoulder throughout, his mount showed a willing attitude to grind away and get the upper hand in the closing stages, eventually beating Silver Spurs.

Purton has seven rides left on the card, including Romantic Thor in the feature Group One Champions & Chater Cup, where Romantic Warrior bids to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown and etch his 15th top-level success.

Up next for the 43-year-old at the Standard Chartered-backed meeting is the Class Five Priority Private Handicap, where he will ride Best World in a race that starts at 2.30pm.