Turf Talk Newsletter – 03 June, 2026

Questioning has blossomed into an eyecatching individual and can land a deserved Gr 1 on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge  (Picture: Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The highlight of the Hong Kong World Pool race day on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville is the Gr 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m and the one to beat could be the transformed Questioning.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall appears to have got to the bottom of this Querari gelding. The five-year-old has always been a good horse, but he has never had the “wow” factor until this season. When he steps out on to the track nowadays he stands out as an athlete who is relishing the task ahead of him and his performances have followed suit. He has always had a slight stamina question mark, but he failed by just a shorthead to win the prestigious Gr 1 wfa L’Ormarins King’s Plate over a mile in January and from pole position in the Gold Challenge he will have every chance to reserve his energy and maximise his terrific turn of foot in the straight. Furthermore, he has the former record-breaking champion jockey Richard Fourie up.

The best performance put up over a mile this season has undoubtedly been by the Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old Tin Pan Alley, who beat six Gr 1 winners when winning the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes by 3,75 lengths. Among the vanquished were the highest rated classic horse in the land, the 130-rated See It Again, and the Hollywoodbets Durban July and L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince, who was below par on the day and was beaten 10,75 lengths. The nay sayers pointed to Tin Pan Alley’s defeat in his next start in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas as proof that he is overrated on 128, but that race did not pan out well for him. He was slowly away and then began fighting the rider in patches behind a slow pace. He was duly found wanting in the final 50m and overtaken by Star Major. However, Star Major then followed up by winning the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday. So even if Tin Pan Alley’s run was below par in the WSB Guineas it still looks decent on paper. The big question now is whether the race will pan out better for him on Saturday. He will simply need to find cover and settle better than he did in the WSB Guineas and if he does he is the horse to beat. However, it won’t be a simple task to achieve that for former champion jockey Keagan de Melo from a wide draw of eleven out of 12 on the tight horse-shoe shaped Hollywoodbets Greyville track.

See It Again is at his best over 2000m, but has won a Gr 2 over a mile and has been in the top three in three Gr 1 wfa miles. He was slightly hampered in the straight in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, before flying home and failing by just 0,25 lengths to win. So, he was a tad unlucky in the King’s Plate and was likely below par in the Horse Chestnut, which came just six weeks after his win in the Gr wfa WSB Met over 2000m. See It Again jumps from a tricky draw of seven. However, Andrew Fortune’s sublime hands should have him settled and if he finds cover he can fly home.

Legal Counsel chased a ridiculously fast pace set by Dave The King in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. The latter faded tamely and so did the others who chased the pace, but Legal Counsel stayed on for what seemed an ordinary 4,45 length ninth. However, under the circumstances it was a fine run, especially considering he was just a neck behind Eight On Eighteen and half-a-length behind Gladatorian. He then proved how good a run it was by finishing second to See It Again in the Gr 1 wfa WSB Met over 2000m. Legal Counsel has a plum draw here and has to be respected.

Eight On Eighteen was named Equus Horse Of The Year last season based on his trio of Gr 1 victories, all over 2000m, and he was runner up in the July. However, he did also run close to One Stripe in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the latter has recently made big waves against world class opposition in the USA. Eight On Eighteen had an interrupted Cape Summer campaign, but if he is able to bounce back to his best in his second run of his KZN campaign he could be a threat.

Dave The King goes for a third successive win of this race. He is famous for his long run in, which can begin from 800m and even to 1000m out and he is not easy to catch once he is in the ryhthm of his giant stride. However, the jockeys know him well and he will be given no easy leads and he has also not had quite as good a preparation as in previous years. Furthermore, he faces a stronger field than last year.

Local hope Gladatorian flew home for a 0,35 length third last year and will be dropped out again from a wide draw. He faces an undoubtedly stronger field this year. He didn’t enjoy the heavier training tracks in Cape Town in this season’s summer, so was below par there, but has bounced back with a good second in the Gr 2 IOS DRill Hall Stakes over 1400m, a race he won last year. He is weighted to finish alongsidse Questioning in the Gold Challenge according to the Drill Hall Stakes form, being 1,5kg better off for a 1,60 length beating. However, Questioning won that race easily despite being hampered at the top of the straight.

The Real Prince won the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate to prove he would have gone close in this race last year had he not avoided it in order to protect his July weight. He had a way below par run in the Horse Chestnut but did put in a fair effort in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, although it was below the performance he put up in last year’s Drill Hall.

Fire Attack is a Gr 1 winner and is versatile. He looks capable of running on into the money if able to find cover from a wide draw.  

Cosmic Speed was a 0,85 length fourth last year and was a 3,45 length fifth in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, but this field is stronger than both of those races and he has been a bit unreliable lately.

Main Defender a Gr 1 wfa mile winner, but that was two years ago and this five-year-old’s recent form has been well below his best.

Jet Force has run some fine races this season, but this is a big step up in class and he is up against it.

The selection is Questioning, to beat Tin Pan Alley with See It Again,  Legal Counsel and Eight On Eighteen next best.

Hollywoodbets Greyville will be abuzz on Saturday for one of the season’s most looked forward to meetings (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Ranked in years past as South Africa’s leading elite-level horse race, the 55th renewal of the R2 million weight-for-age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr 1 to be hosted by Race Coast at the Theatre of Champions on Saturday 06 June, promises to deliver a vintage contest, with nine Grade 1 winners in the twelve strong field.

First run in 1972 as the Clairwood Champion Stakes, the inaugural event was won by home-town champion Sentinel, and the honour roll in the ensuing decades has consistently boasted stars of the turf, as befits a race of this status.

Proudly a World Pool event, Saturday’s line-up includes former SA Horse Of The Year DAVE THE KING, who in 2025 became the third back-to-back winner of the premier mile this century, following in the golden hoofprints of Rainbow Bridge (2020/21) and Variety Club (2013/14).

Multiple SA champion trainer Mike de Kock, who is now in partnership with his son Mathew, saddled his first winner of this race in 1995 when Record Edge won, and won it again three years later with Golden Hoard. The internationally renowned trainer has been involved with the silverware in three of the past four renewals.

SA champion trainer Justin Snaith last won the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr 1 in 2019 with Do It Again and saddles a three-way coupling on Saturday, headed by reigning SA Horse Of The Year EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, who gets a ‘new’ partner in Aldo Domeyer.

The Snaith attack includes the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 and HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge Gr 1 hero SEE IT AGAIN, who returns to the proverbial well for the third time, having run third in 2024 and fifth last year. The son of Twice Over will be partnered by South Africa’s oldest professional jockey, the charismatic Andrew Fortune.

Another former multiple national champion conditioner, Sean Tarry last won this race back in 2007 with Succesful Bidder, and his coupling is headed by the only sophomore in the line-up, in 2025/26 Highveld Horse Of The Season, TIN PAN ALLEY, who will be ridden by past SA champion jockey, Keagan de Melo.

Dean Kannemeyer, whose champion Free My Heart won the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr 1 twice in 2000 and 2002, will be keen to get back on the prestigious honour roll and sends out 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr 1 hero THE REAL PRINCE, who put in a barnstorming effort to win the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 in January.

After a long and distinguished career, Milnerton veteran Vaughan Marshall bids to break the ice and saddles recent IOS Drill Hall Stakes Gr 2 winner, QUESTIONING, the mount of record-breaking rider, Richard Fourie.

There is even an element of ‘international’ competition this year as Cape Town-born jockey Grant van Niekerk flies in from Mauritius to partner JET FORCE for Des McLachlan

South Africa’s leading sportsbook operator, Hollywoodbets are now in their seventh year of sponsoring the leading mile.

“The Gold Challenge was Hollywoodbets’ first Grade 1 race sponsorship, and thus a milestone in our company’s history and is a race that is befitting of its premier status in the SA Champions Season hierarchy. The quality of the 2026 renewal speaks volumes of the prestige and impact the event holds in determining the star achievers and Equus award-winners of the SA racing season,” added Heffer.

With the iconic R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr 1 just four weeks away, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is an historical key pointer to Africa’s Greatest racing event.

“The Race Coast team are excited to be hosting this iconic race day in our big season,” enthused Stephen Marshall, Race Coast’s Head of Marketing, Major Events and Broadcasting.

“A longstanding highlight of the South African racing year, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge honour roll speaks for itself. This blue riband event has been won by no less than ten Durban July winners, the roll of stars including big names of the ilk of Yataghan, Politician, Over The Air, Royal Chalice and Flaming Rock, who were joined this millennium by Dancer’s Daughter, Pocket Power, Big City Life, Legislate and Do It Again.”

Off the track, the afternoon offers action and entertainment for the whole family, including live music, food trucks, and a safe and supervised play area for the little ones while racegoers get to relax in the Trackside Vibe Bar.

The first race on Saturday’s day-night dual surface race meeting starts at 13h40.

A R500 000 carryover is expected to boost the Pick 6 pool to R3 million. The popular exotic bet commences in the fourth race (15h25).

Both the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr 1 (Race 7 @ 17h20) and the HKJC World Pools Stakes (race 8 @ 18h00) are proudly World Pool events.

The Peter Kannemeyer-trained Over The Air (New South Wales), pictured with Garth Puller up, won the equivalent of the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (The Clairwood Champion Stakes) for three years in succession from 1979 to 1981 and is one of ten July winners to have won this prestigious wfa Mile 

First run in 1972 as the Clairwood Champion Stakes at the now defunct Durban South racetrack, the inaugural mile event was won by iconic “home town boy” Sentinel, who fully justified favouritism to score by the best part of a length. The Ellis’ champion would repeat that feat twelve months later under Michael Roberts at the prohibitive odds of 18-10.

Two champions have managed to win the race on three consecutive occasions. The Peter Kannemeyer-trained Over The Air won the race in 1979, 1980 and 1981, all under Garth Puller, whereas Irish-bred Flaming Rock and Karl Neisius proved unbeatable from 1991 to 1993 for owner Shirley Pfeiffer and trainer Chris Snaith.

Milers have obviously dominated the race, and the honour roll is replete with true legends over that distance, several of which won it on more than one occasion, notably the grey Wolf Power, who defeated Foveros in 1982 and duly completed the double twelve months later when leading home Arctic Cove and Spanish Pool.

Spanish Pool got his revenge in 1984 and repeated a year later when Jeff Lloyd lifted him over the line to hold off Felix Coetzee on Beldale Lustre.

Fast forward to 2012 when three-year-old Variety Club put a small, but high-quality field of older rivals to the sword with a splendid start-to-finish victory and under similar dictating tactics, he completed the double twelve months later by defeating champion Beach Beauty. Remarkably, that second victory capped an eight-win streak for the country’s dominant miler, who went on to take the international stage by storm and reached the ultimate pinnacle at Sha Tin where he disposed of Hong Kong’s best to claim the Champions Mile Gr 1 by an imperious four lengths.

With the demise of the Clairwood racetrack, the Gold Challenge moved to Hollywoodbets Greyville in 2015, since which two Horse of the Year recipients clinched back-to-back renewals. After finishing third in the 2019 race, Rainbow Bridge claimed his first success in 2020 and twelve months later, showed there’s no substitute for class by successfully defending his crown in what was the fifth Gr 1 win of his career.

The most recent dual winner is DAVE THE KING. In 2024, the De Kock stable’s champion took the lead a long way out and kept up a relentless gallop in the straight to cruise to a facile victory. He successfully defended his crown last year under similar tactics, albeit that he had but a neck to spare over the previous season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July winner ORIENTAL CHARM. He will be back this year in an attempt to become the first triple Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winner since Flaming Rock completed the hattrick all of 33 years ago.

DID YOU KNOW

It’s not just sprinters and milers who have stamped their authority on the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, many a middle-distance champion has used the race as a stepping stone to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Since its inception, the Gold Challenge has been won by no less than ten July winners and the list reads like a veritable who’s who: Yataghan, Politician, Over The Air, Royal Chalice and Flaming Rock were joined this millennium by Dancer’s Daughter, Pocket Power, Big City Life, Legislate and Do It Again.

There have only been two female winners of the Gold Challenge, the first of which, English-bred Dancer’s Daughter asserted herself inside the final furlong to claim the 2008 race, despite having drifted into double figures at the off.

Three years later, Dancewiththedevil was the toast of Clairwood when she made up the best part of 14 lengths in the straight to record her third victory at the highest level. Unfazed by the rain-softened going and racing over a left-handed track for the first time in her career, St John Gray’s homebred unleashed a devastating turn of foot to pip Cape Derby winner Bravura on the line.

Jet Master, who annihilated a distinguished field by 3.50 lengths in the 1999 renewal and was denied a double when defeated a neck a year later, went on to sire a Gold Challenge winner. In 2009, his mighty son Pocket Power treated a sizeable Clairwood crowd to a masterful performance when he came home clear of Kapil and his own sister River Jetez.

It was third time lucky for the undisputed champion, who was beaten a shorthead by Successful Bidder in 2007 whilst in 2008, he was given far too much to do in the straight and had to settle for fourth, just over a length behind Dancer’s Daughter.

Jet Master’s son Pomodoro, who had finished third to Variety Club in 2013, is the sire of Cirillo, a gallant runner-up in 2019. After trying to make all, he just failed to hold off a rampant Do It Again to go down by a half length.

Jet Master has also stamped his mark on the race as a broodmare sire, his daughters having produced the dual winners Rainbow Bridge and Dave The King.

The most successful trainers have been Peter Kannemeyer and Mike de Kock, who share the record with five wins apiece. Peter Kannemeyer saddled Over The Air to three consecutive wins and also put the finishing touches to Priceless Asset (1989) and Pas De Quoi (1994).

Record Edge provided Mike de Kock with his first winner in 1995 and was followed three years later by Golden Hoard. It took all of 24 years before Al Muthana became Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winner number three in 2022, but the stable has claimed the last two renewals with Dave The King, whose 2025 victory is credited to the partnership of Mike and son Mathew.

The crowds are expected to be back in force and favourite Benvenuto Cellini may prove irresistible for many backers (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

The Derby 2026: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners

Benvenuto Cellini trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, has draw stall 12 for the Epsom Derby on Saturday and this Timeform rated 130p horse is the favourite at 9-4.

He boasts an impeccable pedigree (Frankel/Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega)), was a convincing winner of what has been one of the best trials in recent years, and will be saddled by a trainer with a record 11 wins to his name already with stable No 1 Ryan Moore taking the reins. An identikit Derby favourite, in other words, although the recent rain at Epsom is a slight concern as he was only third of five runners when favourite for the Futurity on heavy ground at Doncaster in October. Not quite as far clear of his rivals on the ratings as his odds might suggest, having also had more starts than several leading rivals, but will prove irresistible for many backers all the same.

Click here for a guide to all of the Derby runners 

Robert Browning has been tipped to win the headliner at Turffontein Inside on Thursday (JC Photos)

A MR 96 Handicap over 2000m is the highest rated race at the Turffontein Inside track meeting on Thurdsay and it could be won by Robert Browning.

The Canford Cliffs gelding is 3kg better off with The Playboy Bomber for a 1,70 length beating over this trip on April 9 and last time out, following a below par run in between, he ran well over 1600m in a Middle Stakes event in which he was out at the weights. Back in a handicap and drawn one over a suitabke course and distance he should be right there. Kudzu has blossomed into his big frame as a five-year-old and has a chance of recording a hattrick despite being four points higher for his last win, but on the other hand he has a tough draw to overcome. The Playboy Bomber is well drawn over a suitable trip and should make his presence felt. Jordan is distance suited and well drawn and should be in the shake up. Open Highway should finish on top of Kudzu accoring to the form of their last meeting coupled with the weight turnaround, but he also has a tricky draw of eight.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1600m, Winding Power has the best form here and should take a power of beating from a good draw. Royale Jacket has been knocking on the door and has an opportunity go one better than his run last time on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly as he is drawn in pole here. Master Buddy has been beaten by Royale Jacket before, but improved last time out to beat him narrowly, although he does now have a wide draw.

In the next race over 1600m Late Bloomer ran a couple of fair sprints in the strong centre of Cape Town and on pedigree will relish the step up in trip being by Querari out of Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom. Flying World improved last time in her second run after the blinkers were removed and could be a threat. Trex On Fire made a fair debut and can improve.

In the sixth race over 1450m Oklahma Snokeshow was used up to go to the front last time in what turned out to be a fast-paced race and was not surprisingly unable to maintain it. He now has a good draw and can bounce back. Major Arcana starts off handiacpping off a reasonable merit rating, but does not have an easy draw. Ubermensch has improved in the conext of this race and from a plum draw can be involved under leading jockey Craig Zackey.

In the seventh race over 1450m Warm Reception ran a fair race in the Secretariat Stakes against the boys last time and was two lengths clear of Ovation Star and three lengths clear of Kensal Green, so can confirm the form here. Ovation Star was disappointing in the Secretariat Stakes last time but before that ran a fine secod in the Gr 3 TAB Starling Stakes over 1400m. Now back in an ordinary handicap against her own gender, she could make her presence felt from a fair draw. Kensal Green was behind Warm Reception and Ovation Star in the Scretariat , but on -previous form is not out of it here. A Bit Of Class has plenty of class, but will likely need this, although she could still make her presence felt from a good draw. Warning Sound is capable of earning here.

In the eighth race over 1450m Winds Of Grace is a fair sort and back against her own gender has a big chance over a suitable trip from a good draw. Lady Elliot is a fair sort if things go her way and from pole position she has a shout. Wise Counsel beat Winds Of Grace in the maidens over course and distance by 2,60 lengths last July and if weight for age improvement is taken into account she should not be at a weight disadvantage on paper and this is also her third run after a layoff, so she is an interesting runner, although she does have a wide draw.

In the first race Periodic Table will be hard to beat having made an eyecatching debut and then being beaten at odds of 5/10 in a small field second time out in a workriders race.

In the second over 1200m Artifact comes out well on collateral formlines and is well drawn, so could represent fair value because at time of writing she is quoted at odds of 6/1 by Hollywoodbets.

Caspar Fownes kicks off a double with Family Fortune (Picture: HKJC)

By Leo Schlink
04/06/2026 00:13

Caspar Fownes’ push for the 2025/26 Hong Kong trainers’ title gained crucial momentum at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (3 June) when the four-time champion posted a double to forge to a three-win lead with 11 meetings left in the season.

Combining with Joao Moreira, Fownes struck with Family Fortune (133lb) in the Class 5 Mount Butler Handicap (1650m) and The Heir (135lb) in the third section of the Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (1200m) to take his seasonal tally at the city circuit to 41, breaking his own record of 40 wins set in 2009/10.

Fownes’ brace propelled him to 60 wins overall for the campaign, three clear of Danny Shum (57) with Mark Newnham next on 56, Francis Lui (50), David Hayes (49) and John Size (47).

“A very exciting night and for me, I’m mostly proud that the horses have come out and done the job again,” Fownes said. “For me, it’s a personal-best to get 41 wins (in a season) here, that means a lot to me at my home track, so I’m gonna try and shatter that record this season – hoping for the best.

“It never gets boring (watching Moreira ride) – I’m very happy to have him riding for me and hopefully the fans are enjoying it.”

Champion trainer in 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14 and 2020/21, Fownes has accelerated his charge for a fifth crown with doubles across each of the past three meetings.

Moreira has been integral to Fownes’ surge, riding 17 winners for the Fownes stable since returning to Hong Kong full-time in April.

“A dream run – I thought we could do well, but actually we’re doing better than I thought, to be honest,” Moreira said. “All the credit goes to the team, who are doing an amazing job.

“The key tonight was being on the inside and both of them were quite lucky to get good draws, which makes a massive difference at Happy Valley. You need luck and apparently that’s what we have been getting in the last couple of meetings.”

Shum maintained touch with Fownes after Without Compare (128lb) snared the Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap (1650m) for Jerry Chau, who now leads Vincent Ho by 11 wins – 42 to 31 – in the battle for the Tony Cruz Award for the leading homegrown jockey.

Newnham had briefly moved into second place overall in the trainers’ standings with Power Koepp’s (120lb) all-the-way victory in the Class 3 Shouson Hill Handicap (1200m) under Alexis Badel before Shum’s success in the evening’s finale.

Jumping from gate six, the tenacious seven-year-old steamed to his fifth course and distance success to give Badel a double after the Frenchman earlier scored on Cody Mo’s Hong Kong International Sale graduate Forerunner (125lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (1200m).

Brenton Avdulla brings up 100 wins with victory on Take Action.
Brenton Avdulla brings up 100 wins with victory on Take Action.
Brenton Avdulla notched his 100th winner in the city when Size-trained Take Action (125lb) prevailed in the Class 4 Middle Gap Handicap (1650m). Substituting for Hugh Bowman, Avdulla brought the Sacred Falls gelding with a well-time run down the centre of the track to down Exceed The Limit (135lb).

“It’s a good result. If you asked me at the start of the season, I hoped it would have come a couple of months in. But to do it now, obviously on a pick-up ride for John Size, I think it’s pretty appropriate,” Avdulla said.

“I think John’s probably been one of the most loyal supporters I’ve had since I got here.

“He’s been a consistent horse all season, he deserved to win but to ride 100 winners in Hong Kong is a big thrill. It’s an achievement that I probably didn’t think would happen a few years ago when I came to Hong Kong. I thought that was just going to be an eight or nine-week season and then I’d go home, but to come back and ride here for three seasons and ride 100 winners, it’s a big thrill.”

Fresh from G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) success last weekend with Light Years Charm, David Eustace slotted a double, triumphing with Majestic Delight (132lb) in the Class 5 Mount Nicholson Handicap (1200m) under James Orman and Silvery Breeze in the Class 2 Tai Tam Gap Handicap (1800m) for Zac Purton, who also scored on David Hall’s Brownneedsfurther (126lb) in the Class 4 Cricket Club Valley Stakes Handicap (1200m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 June) with the first of the 2025/26 ‘Summer Series’ fixtures with the first race scheduled for 4pm.

Zac Purton reached the 2,000-win milestone in Hong Kong aboard the Brett Craford-trained Rising World in the Hong Kong Wu Hua General Association Cup Plate (1200m) for Griffins at Sha Tin on Sunday, 31 May. The Australian Racing Hall of Famer is the first to reach the mark

Declan Schuster (HKJC)

Zac Purton broke new ground at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon (31 May) as the Australian became the first jockey to ride 2,000 winners in Hong Kong, reaching the milestone aboard the Brett Crawford-trained Rising World (121lb) in the Hong Kong Wu Hua General Association Cup Plate (1200m) for Griffins.

Breaking swiftly from barrier 10 on Crawford’s two-year-old debutant, the eight-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey attained the phenomenal landmark on his 11,229th ride in the city, finishing a short-head in front of Almighty Warrior (126lb) in 1m 09.74s.

“At least I’m not going to have to go home tonight and listen to Cash say ‘why didn’t you have a winner today, Daddy?’, so we’ve had the winner and he’s got the trophy – so it’s job done,” Purton said.

Purton, 43, is from Lismore, Australia and moved to Hong Kong in 2007. He rode his first winner at Happy Valley in September, 2007 aboard Elfhelm. Since then, he’s won riding titles in 2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25, surpassed the 100-win mark in a season 10 times and, holds single-season records for wins (179) and earnings (HK$277,712,060) – both attained in 2022/23.

An Australian Racing Hall of Famer and all-time great of Hong Kong racing, Purton’s win strike rate in Hong Kong exceeds 17% across his career. He said: “It is (a wonderful achievement) when I reflect back upon it and look at some of those great moments that I’ve had in my career. It truly is amazing.

“I’ve been very fortunate and, of course, I couldn’t do anything without the support that I get from the owners, trainers, and Hong Kong’s been such a great place for me.”

Rising World prevails on debut under Zac Purton (HKJC)

Purton has won the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) – Hong Kong’s most sought-after prize – with Luger (2015) and Massive Sovereign (2024), and after Gary Moore and Noel Barker, he is only the third Australian to win a riding championship in Hong Kong.

Purton’s career began as a fresh-faced apprentice in Coffs Harbour with trainer Trevor Hardy some 30 years ago. He rode his first winner – Magic Zap – at Armidale in Australia on 6 May, 2000 before his move to Hong Kong as a 24-year-old.

His first elite-level win in Hong Kong was for Paul O’Sullivan on Fellowship in the 2010 HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m). Purton, who is admired for his hard work, captivated the racing scene with famed tussles against great championship rivals Douglas Whyte – who Purton surpassed as the jockey with the most Hong Kong wins when he rode his 1,814th last year – and ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira.

Whyte and Moreira are the only other jockeys in Hong Kong racing history to ride more than 1,000 winners. Purton’s renowned for associations with Beauty Generation, Exultant, Aerovelocity, Ambitious Dragon, Southern Legend, Lucky Sweynesse, Military Attack and more, while nine-time Group 1 winner Ka Ying Rising tops them all, he says.

“Ka Ying Rising has been very big, of course; he stands atop. The association I had with Beauty Generation, I really enjoyed that. Aerovelocity – going to Japan and winning there with him was fantastic. There’s so many horses – I could stand here all day and name them all but there’s been a fair few Horse of the Years that I’ve been able to throw my leg over and it’s made it a lot easier,” Purton said.

Exultant’s 2020 G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) success saw Purton become the only jockey to have won all 12 Group 1 races in Hong Kong racing’s calendar. He is also a three-time LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship winner in 2017, 2020 and 2021.

Purton won the G1 The Everest (1200m), G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) with Ka Ying Rising this term, while Voyage Bubble provided him with a fifth G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) score after Ambitious Dragon (2012), Beauty Only (2016), Beauty Generation (2018) and California Spangle (2022).

“To come here and not have the red carpet rolled out for me; I had to work for everything that I have got and that wasn’t easy to stay determined, resilient and keep turning up, and everything that comes with that to be standing here today – it makes it, obviously, feel like it’s all been worthwhile and obviously it has. I’ve had to work for it,” Purton said.

Click here to read a tribute to Zac Purton’s HK career