After describing Ka Ying Rising’s win in Saturday’s (18 October) G1 The Everest (1200m) as “the biggest moment of his career”, Zac Purton will chase another landmark on Wednesday night (22 October) as he searches for an astonishing 1,900th Hong Kong win with seven rides at Happy Valley. 

Purton, 42, has the most wins in Hong Kong racing history (1,899) after bettering Douglas Whyte’s long-standing mark of 1,813 last season. The Australian rider, an eight-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey and leader of the 2025/26 title race by 13 wins over Hugh Bowman (21-8), reunites with Horsepower (130lb) in tomorrow night’s HK$2.84 million Class 2 The LONGINES Cup Handicap (1000m) from barrier three for trainer Frankie Lor.

“He’s done a really good job and all of his best runs have been at Happy Valley over 1000 metres. When he’s ventured outside of that, he’s been a little bit disappointing, but he’s his own creator of bad habits – he wants to over-race, hang and do things wrong. Over 1000 they run along and it gets him off the bit and into a nice rhythm,” Purton said.

Horsepower, owned by former Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Michael Lee and his family, is a three-time winner over 1000m from six career starts in Hong Kong. The 88-rated son of Harry Angel has trialled twice ahead of his seasonal bow.

Purton said: “In his first trial, he slipped coming out of the gates and was slow out and then wanted to charge and take off. He was a bit better in his last trial, but it’s just hard to get a guide on where he is really at without sending him to the races.

“Whether he’s on a mark that has now got the better of him, we’ll find out. There’s only one way to find out and that’s by going back to the races.”

The LONGINES Cup also features Aurora Lady (130lb), Red Elegance (130lb), Superb Capitalist (129lb), Colourful King (128lb), Stellar Express (126lb), Whizz Kid (126lb), Harmony N Blessed (124lb) and Youthful Spirits (120lb).

Purton, a recent inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, was especially proud to celebrate Saturday’s The Everest win aboard Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) Ka Ying Rising with those closest to him at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia.

“I had a lot of family and friends there to enjoy the moment with which was great because they don’t always travel and they don’t always get to be a part of it,” Purton said.

“The race was run perfectly for us. He just got into the right spot, he was in a good rhythm and he did what he had to do. It was great to see everyone there.”

The victory was 137-rated Ka Ying Rising’s 14th in succession and his fifth at Group 1 level across his 17-start racing career. Ka Ying Rising is currently Hong Kong, China’s highest-rated horse ahead of Romantic Warrior (134).

Purton said: “It was a great day. It was really satisfying to go there and then to have him show everyone in Australia and some of the other parts of the world what he really can do. It’s a great achievement and (trainer) David (Hayes) did a really good job to prepare him the way he did.”

Another Hong Kong-based jockey planning a hit-and-run mission to Australia is Hugh Bowman, who has been booked by former ally Chris Waller to ride Aeliana in Saturday’s (25 October) G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley – a race Bowman has triumphed in four times with legendary mare Winx (2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018).

“I’m really grateful and proud that he (Chris Waller) gave me the opportunity to come back and ride her. There’s a great feeling about it, and let’s hope that Aeliana brings her best foot forward and I think, if she does, she can certainly be competitive,” Bowman said.

Bowman takes seven rides at Happy Valley tomorrow night before his trip to Australia, where he’ll partner Super Sixty (134lb) in the Class 4 Speedy Handicap (1000m) for trainer Caspar Fownes.

“I thought it was a winning performance, actually, but he found one better than him. Parents’ Love was just too strong and probably a class above in reality, so we go into a similar event without Parents’ Love and I think if he can reproduce that performance, it should be good enough to nearly win the race,” Bowman said.

“The horse is in very good shape as he showed last start. He’s really rated (57) at a point where he should be able to win.”

Wednesday’s (22 October) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 6.40pm with the Class 4 Speedy Handicap (1000m).