John Size won a 13th trainers’ premiership in Hong Kong, and Zac Purton is champion jockey for the seventh time, following the closing meeting of the season at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
The 71-year-old said: “There’s a lot of satisfaction in [winning] and probably something I’m very grateful to achieve,” Size said. “It’s a very strong and stiff competition and so therefore you have to rise up to it.
“As I’ve said before, I’m surprised that I’ve been so successful in Hong Kong. It’s always been a test of if I can keep performing at that level and so far I’ve been able to over 24 years and, God willing, if my health is still OK, I can do it for a little bit longer.”
Purton has won the most races in Hong Kong racing history. He ended this season with 138 winners and gross stake earnings of $213,311,025. He was 64 winners clear of second-placed Hugh Bowman.
South Africa’s Luke Ferraris clinched a Top 5 spot with 47 winners and $78,798,675 in stakes, while the luckless Lyle Hewitson booted home 29 winners for $52,595,475 in stakes. He was sidelined by injury last month. The pair, as well as fellow locals Karis Teetan and Keagan de Melo will return for the new season.
