Zac Purton showcased his trademark patience and precision at Sha Tin as he steered Light Years Charm to a commanding win in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Lee On Handicap (1400m) on Sunday. The gelding’s powerful late surge from the rear of the field not only sealed an impressive third victory in Hong Kong but also delivered a landmark 30th win of the season for trainer David Eustace, underscoring a standout debut campaign.
Light Years Charm, a four-year-old son of Rubick, was slow into stride but made steady progress under Purton’s experienced handling. Despite early pressure on both sides at the break, Purton allowed the gelding to find his rhythm at the back of the pack. When the time was right, he switched him wide and asked for an effort, and the response was immediate. The gelding unleashed an electrifying finishing burst, covering the final 800 metres in 44.58 seconds and the last 400 in a slick 22.37.
The performance earned the gelding a lucrative PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million in addition to the HK$1.59 million winner’s cheque. Purchased for a modest A$3,750 (approx. HK$19,106) at the 2022 HTBA May Yearling Sale in Australia, Light Years Charm has since amassed over HK$7.6 million in prize money, highlighting a remarkable return on investment. Originally trained by Brett Dodson and a maiden winner at Lismore in June 2024, he has flourished since his transfer to Hong Kong.
Trainer David Eustace praised the horse’s development and credited the team behind the scenes for their continued effort. He expressed satisfaction with the season so far, noting that the horse would benefit from a break and still has significant potential to unlock. The trainer remains cautious about setting specific goals, acknowledging the gelding’s youth and physical immaturity.
Purton, who increased his lead in the jockeys’ premiership to 52 wins with a double on the day, commended the horse’s ability to recover from an awkward start. His tactical approach allowed Light Years Charm to deliver at the right time, demonstrating why Purton continues to dominate the Hong Kong circuit with 118 wins so far this season, well ahead of Hugh Bowman (66).
Elsewhere on the Sha Tin card, legendary trainer John Size edged closer to yet another trainers’ championship. With wins from Ping Hai Comet in the Class 4 Lam Tin Handicap (1600m) and Majestic Express in the Class 3 On Yam Handicap (1000m), he moved eight clear of David Hayes in the standings. Brenton Avdulla partnered Majestic Express, who also picked up a PP Bonus.
French jockey Antoine Hamelin added to the international flavour of the day, striking on Sky Prophet in the Class 5 Chung On Handicap. Despite facing a wide draw in barrier 13 and going off at 18/1 odds, Hamelin led from the start and maintained his advantage to the line, bringing up his eighth winner of the campaign.
Apprentice Britney Wong also shone with a brace of victories. Her reunion with Cheval Valiant in the Class 4 Lai On Handicap brought back memories of her first Hong Kong win, and she followed it up with another aboard Ruby Sailing in the Class 5 Chak On Handicap. Nine of her 18 winners this season have come for trainer Manfred Man, who has saddled at least one winner at each of the past seven meetings.
Among other highlights, Keagan De Melo took advantage of an inside gate to win the Class 4 Kwong Tin Handicap (1200m) aboard Perfectday for trainer Chris So. Angus Chung guided Star Satyr to victory in the Class 4 Mei Tin Handicap for Tony Cruz, while Luke Ferraris was aboard Superb Kid for a strong finish in the Class 3 Ping Tin Handicap for Francis Lui.
In the final feature of the day, Aeris Nova, trained by Benno Yung, battled wide but showed toughness under Derek Leung to land the Class 3 Tin Wan Handicap. The Justify colt, who previously raced in Australia as Scentify, claimed his second Hong Kong victory.
With just 10 meetings left in the season, the battle for titles continues to intensify. Hong Kong racing resumes under lights at Happy Valley on Wednesday, promising more drama as the season nears its close.
