Purton Claws Back Huge Hong Kong Deficit

The deficit remains confronting, but Zac Purton breathed life into his flickering hopes of a successful jockeys’ championship defence with a stunning quintet at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Capitalising on runaway leader Joao Moreira’s suspension, Purton posted his first five-timer for the 2020/21 season, cutting Moreira’s seemingly impregnable margin to 25 after triumphing on Wood On Fire (Per Incanto), Hurry Hurry Gain (Press Statement), Ever Force (Toronado) and the John Size-pair of Wealthy Delight (Lord Kanaloa) and Wind N Grass (Lawman). It is the eighth time Purton has registered five wins at a Hong Kong meeting and the first time he has accomplished the feat since May last year. Chasing his fifth jockeys’ title, the Australian rider boosted his tally to 70 – still well adrift of Moreira (95), who is serving a two-meeting suspension for careless riding, with 37 meetings left in the season. Albeit just in theory, Purton only needs to ride one winner more than Moreira per meeting on average to draw equal with 12 meetings to go; it's Everest-like but not impossible.

Wind N Grass was Purton's fifth winner (pic: hkjc.com)