Zac Purton showcased his trademark dominance at Sha Tin with a commanding four-win performance, adding further sparkle to an already glittering season. Having already sealed his eighth jockeys’ championship title, the Australian ace showed no signs of slowing down as he partnered with trainers David Hall, Tony Cruz, and David Hayes to secure victories aboard Mr Energia, Magnifique, Igor Stravinsky, and Fortune Boy. His season tally now stands at an impressive 132 wins, far ahead of the rest of the pack.
While Purton took center stage, all eyes were also on the local rider race, where Derek Leung made significant strides in the Tony Cruz Award race. Leung partnered Celtic Times to a well-earned win in the Li Cup Handicap, marking his 250th success on the Sha Tin turf. The homegrown jockey now sits within striking distance of Matthew Poon and Matthew Chadwick, with the award for the top local rider still very much up for grabs as the season approaches its final chapters.
Trainer David Hayes enjoyed a productive day, narrowing the gap to John Size in the trainers’ championship. Hayes celebrated wins with Ka Ying Resilience and Fortune Boy, while Size kept his lead intact thanks to a strong showing from the promising two-year-old Alabama Song in the Purves Quaich Plate. The young Griffin’s win ensured Size still holds the advantage with just three race meetings to go.
There were other notable performances throughout the day. Ellis Wong continued his impressive run of form by guiding Dancing Code to a thrilling victory in the Philip Chen Trophy Handicap. With a perfectly timed run from behind, Dancing Code surged past the leaders to claim a memorable win, much to the delight of celebrity owner Aaron Kwok.
Not to be overlooked, Benno Yung’s Endued put in a strong shift to secure the Chan Trophy Handicap under Hugh Bowman, while Angus Chung denied Purton a fifth win on the card by driving Beauty Crescent to his first Hong Kong victory in 33 starts. Previously trained in Ireland, Beauty Crescent showed renewed form to upset the favorite Patch Of Stars.
As the Sha Tin season draws to a close, the action now shifts to Happy Valley for the midweek meeting, promising more twists and turns in both the jockeys’ and trainers’ title races.
