Purton backs up record-breaking night with brilliant Sha Tin four-timer
Wins aboard Sunlight Power, Magnifique, Yuen Long Elite and Gorgeous Win cap a historic week for champion jockey
by Jay Rooney on Sunday, January 26, 2025 7:03 PM Sunlight Power surges clear under Zac Purton to score at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Fresh from his record-breaking achievement on Wednesday night, Zac Purton continued his stunning momentum with a Class Two double and a superb debut winner highlighting the champion jockey's four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Four days after surging past Douglas Whyte's all-time record for Hong Kong wins by a jockey, it was business as usual for Purton as he rocketed to 78 wins this season after booting home Sunlight Power, Magnifique, Yuen Long Elite and Gorgeous Win.
The Australian star bagged the two strongest races on the card, guiding Sunlight Power to victory in the Class Two Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Cup (1,600m) before capping his four-timer on Gorgeous Win in the Class Two Para Equestrian Handicap (1,200m).
Luckless in recent runs, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Sunlight Power atoned with a strong one-and-a-half-length triumph to justify his red-hot $1.45 quote.
'He had the right weight in this race, he drew the right barrier [one], he got a charmed run the whole way and because he had the fence he was quite comfortable to ride,' Purton said after Sunlight Power settled midfield on the fence before coming off the inside early in the straight to launch his winning run.
'He can normally hang in and do a few things wrong, but he gave me a great ride and he did everything right and did a good job.'
Once Purton gained clear running, Sunlight Power charged past The Golden Scenery to hit the front at the 250m en route to a comfortable success.
Yellowfin made good ground from last down the outside to grab second, narrowly ahead of Karma. Voyage Samurai, who was rated Sunlight Power's biggest threat at $4.1, led and faded to run a disappointing seventh.
Sunlight Power was Purton and Yiu's first win together in 364 days. While Purton notched the first of his record-breaking Hong Kong wins on Yiu's Elfhelm in 2007, the jockey and trainer have been an infrequent combination, teaming up just six times this term.
Purton's victory on Gorgeous Win was far less comfortable, with Danny Shum Chap-shing's consistent galloper closing a big margin to record a last-gasp success as the $1.5 favourite.
Trailing a hot speed in second last position, Gorgeous Win was about eight lengths off the leader Baby Crystal at the 400m and still had considerable ground to make up at the 200m.
However, the Press Statement gelding hit top gear and ran down Baby Crystal late to score by a neck, with Full Credit not far behind in third. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 26, 2025
'I drew awkward [barrier seven] and a few horses were sort of out of position early, so I just had to let him find his rhythm and come into it when he was ready,' Purton said after notching his fifth win from seven rides on Gorgeous Win.
Magnifique backed up his unbeaten record from three trials with a stylish win on debut, claiming the Class Four Para Athletics Handicap (1,000m) by a length from Enjoy Golf.
'Before the race, everyone said it's an ordinary race and there's nothing to beat and then you go off the $2 favourite,' Magnifique's trainer David Hall said.
'But in reality, to go down the straight on your first start as a three-year-old against some of those older, more seasoned horses isn't easy.
'Zac said he travelled stronger than he would have liked and it's pretty hard to find after travelling that strongly, so he did a good job to keep going and get it done.
'He's not just an out-and-out 1,000m speed horse and I think he'll be able to go around the bend over 1,200m and hopefully he'll keep on improving.
'[Owner] Kirk [Wong King-wai] picked him out at the Ready to Run Sale and he didn't have a trainer. I've had a long history with the family and I had Absolute Champion for his father many moons ago.'
Manfred Man Ka-leung's Yuen Long Elite was Purton's biggest winner of the day, saluting by three lengths in the Class Four Para Badminton Handicap (1,400m).
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