With five wins, three seconds and two thirds from only 15 mounts this campaign, Purton has made another strong start to the season and the Australian hopes to build further momentum with nine rides at the weekend.
Savvy Brilliant, who won his sole Australian start for Anthony & Sam Freedman at Mornington on 21 January when he raced as Gallaroo, debuts under Purton for Frankie Lor in the Class 3 Lok Wah Handicap (1000m).
“It’s an interesting one because he raced from (the) back overseas and finished it off strong but in his trial the other day, we rode him forward and he was a bit weak, so we’ll just have to let him find his rhythm – wherever that is – in the race and see what we can get,” Purton said.
By Toronado, Savvy Brilliant finished third in a 1050m trial at Sha Tin on n 3 September.
Purton combined with Chris So to win the opening race of the season on Go Go Go and hopes Super Win Dragon can run well in the Class 3 Oi Tung Handicap (1200m, dirt).
“His trial, I thought, was okay. He’s obviously coming into the race fresh, as they all are, off the back of some below-par performances for him towards the end of last season. He likes the surface. Chris is going well, hopefully this horse is, too,” Purton said.
A four-time winner on Sha Tin’s dirt surface, Super Win Dragon mixed his form last season but won a barrier trial on 3 September.
“It was only a barrier trial but hopefully he can take some confidence out of that. It was good to see him put his head in front and hopefully he can repeat that this weekend,” Purton said.
“He seems like his working well, he wants to get on with a bit too much, but race speed will sort him out and with the gallops he’s had, he might have the fitness edge on the others.”
Sha Tin’s 10-race card starts on Sunday (15 September) with the Class 4 Hong Tung Handicap (1600m) at 1pm.