Champion jockey Zac Purton makes early statement with four-time winner in season opener | HK Racing

New season, same Zac Purton.

The seven-time champion jockey from Hong Kong made an early statement in the season opener at Sha Tin on Sunday by scoring four times to continue his hunt for Douglas Whyte’s all-time record.

Purton started the race successfully with wins in the first four races with Go Go Go, Ka Ying Rising and Fast Network.

The 41-year-old closed his day with a superb ride on Gorgeous Win in the final event, helping the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained gelding clear fence 12 to win the Class Three Sunset Peak Handicap (1,200m).

“It’s a good day and a good start. Hopefully it sets the tone for the rest of the season,” said Purton after moving within 69 winners of Whyte’s record.

“It just comes down to the opportunities you get and how well the horses are prepared. You can’t come here with a high goal, you just have to get back into the system and let it play itself out.”

Go Go Go heralded Purton’s big day with victory in the opener, the Class Five Kowloon Peak Handicap (1,600m).

“The last time I won the first race of the season I broke the record for most wins in a season, so let’s hope history repeats itself,” said Purton, referring to his 179 wins in the 2022-23 season.

Ka Ying Rising confirmed he is on course for Group 1 goals later this season with a superb performance in Sunday’s Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1200m).

Fast Network was another impressive winner, maintaining his unbeaten record at his second start with a superb performance in the Class Four Lantau Peak Handicap (1,000m).

Backing up his impressive debut victory in June, the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained gelding made effortless work of the top weight of 135lb and overcame a slow start to prove he was too smart for his rivals.

Purton had Fast Network poised to pounce, behind leader Cheval Valiant, until he made his move to take the lead in the 150m. He jumped away in the closing stages to beat Cheval Valiant by a length and a half.

Britney Wong Po-ni impressed on her Hong Kong debut, finishing third on Glorious Expert, for her owner David Hall.

Purton praised Fast Network after justifying the $1.8 favoritism upon its return.

“I thought it was a good effort. He did well,” Purton said.

“He got hit a bit in the beginning and had to find his balance, but he always rode like the winner and was quite soft until the finish.”

Yip said the four-year-old could be tested on other terrains later this season but for now he will be confined to short-distance sprints.

“Right now I think he is doing very well in the 1,000 meters and I will keep him in that distance,” Yip said.

“Zac has only used the whip twice and he was carrying 135 pounds. He is a very nice horse and he continues to improve.”

The season opener was also fruitful for Shum, who won twice from Harmony N Home in the second leg of the Class Four Ma On Shan Handicap (1,400m) to secure a superb victory.

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