Zac Purton sealed his place in Hong Kong racing history yet again by clinching a record-extending eighth jockeys’ championship with a commanding treble at Sha Tin on Saturday, June 28, 2025. With just 50 races remaining in the current season, Purton now holds an unassailable 59-win lead over his nearest challenger, Hugh Bowman, making it mathematically impossible for anyone to catch him.
The 42-year-old Australian showcased his class by steering Gentlemen Legacy, Copartner Fleet, and Fashion Legend to victory, not only securing his fourth straight title but also lifting his overall Hong Kong win tally to an unprecedented 1,866 career victories. “It’s really nice to win another one. This is my eighth. I’ve had another good season apart from having a stack halfway through with a few highlights with some big horses,” he said, referencing his rides on stars like Ka Ying Rising.
Currently sitting on 126 wins for the 2024/25 season, Purton is far ahead of Bowman (67), followed by Andrea Atzeni (55) and Brenton Avdulla (45). His treble on Saturday included a standout win with Tony Cruz-trained Gentlemen Legacy (124lb), which also earned a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus in the Class 3 Nam Chung River Handicap (2000m). He followed that with a strong ride aboard Copartner Fleet (129lb) for Francis Lui in the first section of the Class 4 Beas River Handicap (1200m), and then guided Fashion Legend (124lb) to victory in the Class 4 Sha Tau Kok River Handicap (1650m, dirt) for trainer David Eustace.
While Purton took the spotlight, rising apprentice jockey Ellis Wong also delivered a memorable performance with his first-ever Hong Kong treble, partnering with Ariel (David Hayes), King Oberon (Douglas Whyte), and S J Tourbillon (Dennis Yip) for three impressive wins. Wong, who has cited Purton, Bowman, and Vincent Ho as his inspirations, was thrilled by the breakthrough. “This is my first time to have three winners in Hong Kong, so I’m very happy. These past few months I have had more support and I really appreciate that,” he said, adding that he’s working hard to make the most of every opportunity. Wong has now scored 11 wins across the last seven meetings.
Another highlight of the day came when Alexis Badel reunited with the talented sprinter Beauty Waves (128lb) to claim the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap (1000m). Having his first start under Tony Cruz after moving from Pierre Ng’s yard, Beauty Waves delivered a fast finish in 55.67s to hold off Wunderbar and Magic Control. “It’s good to be back on him,” Badel said. “I’m grateful that Tony gave me the ride and it was just a nice win.” Cruz also expressed confidence in the horse’s future, stating, “I believe he can win more races. He’s always been a real speedy type.”
Veteran galloper Gallant Crown (135lb), trained by David Hayes, provided a fitting farewell with a win in the Class 5 Kam Tin River Handicap (1400m) under Brenton Avdulla. Hayes confirmed the horse’s retirement after the race, saying, “He’s retired now. Not many horses get to do that, win their last start. He’s done a good job.” Gallant Crown retires after 67 starts, with eight career wins and HK$7.9 million in earnings.
Elsewhere on the card, Lucky My Way (135lb) continued his upward trajectory, giving jockey Derek Leung and trainer Manfred Man their second consecutive win in the second section of the Class 4 Beas River Handicap (1200m). This marked Man’s 40th win of the season, highlighting his stable’s strong run. Trainer Michael Chang also enjoyed success as Rising From Ashes (120lb) stormed to victory in the Class 3 Tan Shan River Handicap (1400m) under Antoine Hamelin. The win added to Chang’s already fruitful week, following his midweek double at Happy Valley.
Hong Kong racing fans can look forward to more action as the season continues at Sha Tin on Tuesday, July 1, with the Hong Kong Reunification Raceday promising another exciting chapter in this year’s racing calendar.
