Latest news with #ZacPurton
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Doing Black Caviar things': David Hayes does a deep dive on what makes Ka Ying Rising a superstar sprinter
Doing 'Black Caviar things'. That's how Hall of Fame training legend David Hayes encapsulates his Hong Kong superstar and raging $1.80 The Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising. Racenet this week asked Hayes to do a deep dive on what makes his star sprinter so freakish. He gave a remarkable insight into the racing phenomenon. 'I used to watch Black Caviar gallop very closely, I would say he is the only horse I've ever had do Black Caviar things,' Hayes told Racenet. 'I read that Black Caviar had an incredible stride length compared to other horses when she was let go in a race. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'It's the same with Ka Ying Rising. 'His action goes from being normal but when you push the button at the 300(m) or whenever Zac (Purton) decides to go, his stride gets much, much bigger. 'The thing to my eye that he does very differently to most good horses is that his trackwork is good enough, but when he gets into a racing situation he has got this incredible ability at high speed to lengthen his stride and put the race away. 'I haven't measured it and I haven't done any scientific testing of him, I can't see the point. 'But I have probably watched 30,000 horses and I'm sure I am right. 'I have had some incredible and exciting moments and some exciting horses, but I think he is the most consistently exciting horse I've had who just keeps putting up incredible performances and runs that are so dominant. 'If the best track worker I've ever had is a 10 out of 10, this horse would be a seven out of 10 worker. 'But he's a 10 out of 10 at the trials and a 10 out of 10 at the races.' HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 • Truck-driving hobby trainer sets sights on Sydney first Ka Ying Rising was last seen in April when he made it 12 consecutive wins, producing a devastating victory in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin. The world's top ranked sprinter will race in the $20m The Everest in October for new slot-holder the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Hayes can't wait to show him off to the Australian public, feeling he is the closest sprint sensation that racing fans have seen to Black Caviar who was famously undefeated in 25 races. • 'Took my breath away': How Angela Jones wowed Gai Waterhouse Hayes feels Ka Ying Rising has already displayed similar brilliance to the likes of Black Caviar and Winx – he just needs to maintain the rage and sustain the winning momentum in the future to be rated alongside those former greats. 'If he goes for another 12 months, at the rate he is going, he will end up one of the all-time greats,' Hayes said. 'What makes a horse an all-time great is the length that they stay at the top. 'For instance, Black Caviar three years, Winx four years. 'In their first year of brilliance, I think my horse is every bit as good as those two. 'But he's just got to last, if he can hold this form for the length of time that they did, he will be one of all-time greats. 'If he gets the job done in The Everest it would be one of the highlights of anyone's career, to bring a horse down to the richest turf race in world and win. 'I would just love everyone to see him, he's worth seeing.' In betting on The Everest, confirmed runners Private Harry ($6) and Briasa ($8) are so far considered the ones most likely to give Ka Ying Rising a serious challenge.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
About 20,000 spectators pack into Happy Valley to soak in final day of horse racing season
Tens of thousands of punters packed into Hong Kong's Happy Valley Racecourse to soak up the party atmosphere on the last day of the horse racing season on Wednesday, with many saying it was the busiest they had ever seen. A full house, estimated to be around 20,000 spectators, attended Happy Wednesday, which featured live bands, DJs and a fireworks display. Happy Wednesday is one of Hong Kong's two horse racing events that run weekly throughout the season. The Happy Valley event is known to attract a younger crowd and tourists with a lively atmosphere because of its HK$10 (US$1.30) entry and focus on food, alcohol and live music. Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said that the crowd showed Hong Kong horse racing was more than a gambling spectacle. 'It is the excitement of Hong Kong, I think it will be a full house, and that is something which epitomises Hong Kong,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'It's a passion for horse racing. It's a passion of energy, of close finishes, dynamism. Highland Rahy (6), ridden by Zac Purton, won the Class 3 over 1,650m at Happy Valley. Photo: Kenneth Chan 'Horse racing in Hong Kong is absolutely unique, and the most unique place in the world for horse racing is Happy Valley.
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Massive Sovereign set for his return: ‘I'm looking forward to getting him there'
Trainer David Eustace and jockey Zac Purton will team up with Massive Sovereign at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Massive Sovereign 'hasn't missed a beat in his training' and David Eustace is looking forward to getting him back to competitive racing in Sunday's Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Winner of the 2024 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), the Irish import has only been seen three times since, beaten in a pair of Group Ones to end his 2023-24 campaign when trained by Dennis Yip Chor-hong. He made his final start for the Yip stable when sixth in the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (1,800m) in November, missing his next intended target, December's Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), due to a fetlock injury that required surgery. Massive Sovereign was subsequently switched to the Eustace stable and will be ridden by Zac Purton from gate nine on his comeback. EPIC! 🤯🤯🤯 Massive Sovereign lands a thrilling 147th Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin for @zpurton and Dennis Yip! @BMW | #4YOSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 24, 2024 Although a springboard for other targets, Eustace is looking forward to seeing what his top recruit can do on the track this weekend. 'It's good to get him to the races. We've taken our time and naturally he's going to improve for the run, but his trials have been good. He's fit and well,' said Eustace. 'He's obviously not 100 per cent fit but he's fit enough to run and I think it will really benefit him having a run before the season finishes instead of having a really extended break and going back to the track. 'I'm looking forward to him getting there. He hasn't missed a beat in his training. It's a very tough race – it's come up a really good race, which you've got to expect. I think the mile is a good kick-off point for him.' HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Massive Sovereign (yellow) wins a trial in desperate conditions at Sha Tin last month. Sunday's feature will be fiercely contested, with recent Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) winner Beauty Joy heading the weights for trainer Tony Cruz. The third from that race, Bundle Award, helps form a three-strong team from the John Size stable that also includes Beauty Eternal and Young Champion, while Chancheng Glory, Happy Together and Patch Of Theta also feature prominently. Elsewhere on Sunday, Eustace has the hat-trick-seeking Mister Dapper entered in the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m). The Tivaci galloper streaked away with a course and distance handicap two starts ago and repeated the feat in the Class Four Topaz Handicap (1,600m) last month. Travelling fourth into the straight, he showed a smart turn of foot to flash on past the leaders before holding off challenges from Fortune Boy and Pearl Of Pang's in the closing stages. Both of those horses won their next starts, which gives the form a very positive look, but he will need to up his game as he rises in class from barrier two. 'He's three weeks between runs and he seems to go really well fresh off four or five weeks, but this race was there and he's going really well,' said Eustace. 'He's in great form and he's obviously going to drop in weight, but he's going to need to step up.' The chief danger in the race is the Size-trained Mickley, who ran a screamer to finish second to Eustace's rising star Light Years Charm in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) this month. Mickley drops in class despite that near miss and has drawn well in stall four as he looks for his second win since being imported from the United Kingdom.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton blasts past last season's tally with another magnificent Sha Tin four-timer
Magnifique and Zac Purton (white and red) win at Sha Tin on Saturday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Zac Purton breezed past last season's tally with another four-timer headlined by the gutsy win of Magnifique in the Class Three Chow Silver Plate (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday night. The 42-year-old moved past the 130-winner mark and then onto 132 victories following the success of David Hall's promising three-year-old, but there was a sour footnote with the Charm Spirit galloper found to have bled post-race. Magnifique pulled hard throughout the race after settling midfield and made rapid ground to find the lead 200m from home, looking set to win by multiple lengths. That was not the case, however, as he leaned right in the closing stages and found just enough to fend off Righteous Arion by a neck. Nice talent! Magnifique extends his record to three wins from his first four starts for David Hall as @zpurton makes it a four-timer at Sha Tin... 🙌#SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 5, 2025 The winning margin does not do his win justice, but a lengthy spell on the sidelines is now likely as he is nursed back to health. 'He came up very comfortable, [Zac] had plenty of horse and was going to go right over them and win like the good horse he is, but the reason he slowed down was because he bled,' said Hall. 'He's one of those highly strung sprinting horses – he's always a bit on edge so normally he's the type of horse it happens to.' 'It's a bit unfortunate and puts a dampener on the win, of course, but he'll have a long break and we probably won't see him again until November. It's just unfortunate as he's a horse with a lot of potential.' HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. That was the fourth leg of another brilliant winning day for Purton, who also scooped the Class Four Wong Cup (1,200m) for Hall with $2.2 favourite Mr Energia. Mr Energia makes it look easy! David Hall's galloper cruises to a third win this season under @zpurton today... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 5, 2025 Purton sat wide throughout the race but was always handy and made ground sharply on the turn for home, soon taking the lead and quickening up smartly to win one and three-quarter lengths. After seconds in two of the next three races, Purton was quickly back in the winners' enclosure when the Tony Cruz-trained Igor Stravinsky surged down the outside to claim the Class Four Stevenson Cup (1,200m). Purton was always niggling away at the Irish import and the pair looked in trouble as the leaders quickened up, but the champion jockey got a brilliant tune out of his mount in the final 200m for a cosy success. And things got even better just one race later when $2.2 favourite Fortune Boy fended off a late challenge from Forever Folks to win the Class Four Ip Jug (1,800m). On fire again, @zpurton! 🔥 David Hayes' Fortune Boy sneaks in as favourite to give the eight-time champion jockey a three-timer at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 5, 2025 Purton was always travelling kindly in midfield and made his move at the 300m pole, making rapid ground in the middle of the track to overhaul the early pacemakers. Favourite backers would have had a brief moment of panic as Forever Folks closed quickly, but Purton had enough up his sleeve to scramble in by a head. 'It's been good, all the horses have run well. It's nice to have a reasonable day towards the end of the season,' said Purton. It could have easily been a five-timer for the Australian, but he was denied that honour when $1.7 favourite Patch Of Stars was beaten in the concluding Class Three Chairmen's Day Handicap (1,400m) by Cruz's Beauty Crescent. The hot favourite was planted in midfield and still had plenty to do as the field turned for home. Although Purton closed with menace, he never looked likely to stretch clear and was ultimately collared late by Beauty Crescent.
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Patch Of Stars the headline act as Zac Purton eyes another successful Sha Tin Saturday
Jockey Zac Purton has another stellar book of rides at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Fresh off wrapping up his eighth jockeys' premiership, Zac Purton has the chance to put an exclamation mark on his season with another stacked book of rides including the rampant Patch Of Stars in the Class Three Chairmen's Day Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Saturday. The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained three-year-old has gone from strength to strength in his past three runs, beginning his sequence with Purton on for the first time at Sha Tin back in April. He doubled up in Class Four company with a devastating performance two weeks later, bursting clear at the 300m pole before easing down soon after for a comfortable success. Up to Class Three company in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships Handicap (1,400m) on his most recent start, he once again won with any amount in hand, cruising to the front after a midfield trip to win on the bridle. Patch Of Stars is in a race of his own! 😲 That's an exciting win from Manfred Man's speedy son of All Too Hard as @zpurton posts a double at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 14, 2025 There is no telling just how good this horse could be and Purton thinks he could be even better next campaign. 'He's lightly raced and has really come to hand in the last few months. I think he's been in a couple of races where the tempo has really suited him – his achillies heel is the fact he wants to get on with it,' said Purton. 'He's been in two races where the tempo has been good and he's relaxed really well, so he's managed to show his best. He's still learning his trade and hopefully he's learned to relax and chill a bit better than what he was doing earlier in his career. 'If he can get into a nice rhythm and help himself, he's going the right way and it will be nice to see what he can do next season as well.' HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Purton also rides another bang-in-form horse in the shape of Masterofmyuniverse, who goes for a hat-trick in the Class Two Philip Chen Trophy (1,200m). The Havana Gold galloper has been a rapid riser for John Size, making his debut off a measly rating of 52 at Happy Valley last November. He has won four times at Sha Tin from nine career starts, most recently in a pair of Class Three races over the 1,200m distance. His last success in the Class Three Tai Wai Handicap (1,200m) was a gutsy effort, coming from a long way back and weaving between horses to nab Infinite Resolve in the final stride under an ice-cold Purton The four-year-old is up in grade from a tricky draw, but Purton remains hopeful of a big run with more progress a possibility. Masterofmyuniverse (inside) lashes home to win again at Sha Tin. 'He's just kept improving, as a lot of John Size's horses tend to do,' said Purton. 'He's up in grade now and is drawn a bit awkward, so it's going to be a bit more of a task for him. 'That said, he's going well and should acquit himself well. I'm not really sure how much is left in terms of improvement.' Meanwhile, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu has been passed fit to ride work and he returned to the saddle at Sha Tin on Friday morning. The 35-year-old has been absent from race riding since suffering a brain contusion and a brain bleed in a horror fall at Sha Tin in February. He is now focusing on training as he looks to return to the saddle competitively next season.
