Zac Purton eager to return with a bang on Ka Ying Rising and Galaxy Patch
The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey, who also teams up with Ka Ying Rising's half-brother on Sunday, underwent surgery and was forced to watch on from the sidelines after breaking his left big toe in a three-horse fall at Sha Tin on February 9.
'It feels pretty good. It's a little bit niggly, but nothing to worry about,' Purton said of his toe. 'I've ridden in more pain before so it's not going to worry me.'
After missing the winning ride on Ka Ying Rising in last month's Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m), Purton hops back aboard the David Hayes-trained gelding in Sunday's Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m).
Perfect tune-up for Ka Ying Rising! 😏
The world's best sprinter is first across the line this morning at Sha Tin in his trial ahead of the likes of Sword Point, Helios Express and co. 🔥@zpurton | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/rqEvtLDNgS — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 21, 2025
The sprinter widely considered the best in the world bids for an 11th consecutive victory en route to his next Group One aim, the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on April 27.
He warmed up for the Sprint Cup with an easy trial win under Purton last week.
'He's a nice horse to be coming back for and I'm just looking forward to getting back out there,' Purton said.
'I've been on his back at the trials and in a bit of work. He just continues to please us and do everything well. He's pretty uncomplicated. He's pleased us in every little thing he's done here in Hong Kong. He's the perfect little racehorse.'
Ka Ying Rising will again be a raging favourite when he clashes with six rivals – California Spangle, Helios Express, Lucky With You, Magic Control, Copartner Prance and Gorgeous Win.
Purton's other feature ride on Sunday, Galaxy Patch, also has undeniable claims in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m).
It will be Purton's first time riding Galaxy Patch under race conditions, with Pierre Ng Pang-chi's classy miler bidding for his first win since last October.
'I wouldn't say he's at the crossroads, but he's been a little bit disappointing recently,' Purton said.
'I rode him in that trial [last week] and I just wonder if he might be better with the blinkers back on, but he obviously doesn't have them for this race.
'He didn't seem to be that focused for me in the trial and he was doing all his best racing early in his career with blinkers on, then they took them off him to go up in distance.
'It's my first time riding him on race day and you get a better impression of what a horse is really like after you ride them in that scenario, so I'll learn a bit about him on the weekend. He's obviously a talented horse, we've just got to try get him going the right way again.'
Galaxy Patch has won seven of his 17 starts but has trailed home star galloper Voyage Bubble on his past four runs.
Another of Purton's nine rides on Sunday is Ka Ying Rising's half-brother Ka Ying Glory, who makes his race debut in the first section of the Class Four Plantation Handicap (1,200m).
Also trained by Hayes, the son of Turn Me Loose has won his two most recent trials in fine style.
'He's obviously a nice horse. He feels like he's more of a 1,400m horse or a miler, but he's a really bold-going horse,' Purton said.
'He has to start at the 1,200m just to try and get the pace of the race to help him relax a bit, but he's been strong in all his trials.
'Even when he has pulled he's still kicked on, which is quite unusual – normally when they pull as hard as he does, they normally drop out.
'He's obviously got a fair amount of ability there, it's just a matter of hopefully getting him into the right rhythm in the race for him to show that.'
Volcanic Spark, Bottomuptogether, With A Smile, La Forza, Sunny Da Best and Another World are Purton's other rides.
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