Zac Purton’s storied career surpassed yet another milestone on Wednesday (22 October) at Happy Valley, as Hong Kong’s all-time leading jockey captured his 1,900th win in the city aboard Talents Supremo (126lb) in the Class 5 Success Handicap (1200m).

Just four days after landing the G1 The Everest (1200m) – the world’s richest race on turf worth AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) – with Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) Ka Ying Rising in Sydney, Australia at Royal Randwick, Purton, 42, was proud to reach the landmark with trainer Danny Shum.

“It’s a really good number to get to. Obviously, I can’t do it without the support that I get, and it was nice to do it on one of Danny’s horses as well, because he has been my biggest supporter across my time in Hong Kong,” Purton said. “I just had the right horse, right gate (three), right run and things fell into place, but that’s what you need at Happy Valley and that’s what you need in Hong Kong.”

An eight-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey (2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 & 2024/25), Purton is from Lismore, Australia. He made the move to Hong Kong, China in 2007, and rode his first winner (Elfhelm) at Happy Valley that same year, while this evening’s 1,900th success came at his 10,735th ride.

“It means a lot. It means I’ve been given a lot of opportunities, and I have had very good support. I’m very thankful to all the owners and trainers for everything that they have given me and also The Hong Kong Jockey Club for giving me the opportunity to come here and ride as well, I’ll forever be in debt and thankful to them,” Purton said.

Purton began his career with trainer Trevor Hardy in Coffs Harbour, Australia, as an apprentice aged 14. His first win came 25 years ago aboard Magic Zap at Armidale, and since then, he’s secured his place among racing’s greats atop champions including Ka Ying Rising, Beauty Generation, Exultant, Aerovelocity, Ambitious Dragon and Lucky Sweynesse.

“It’s a lot of years of a lot of hard work. You have your ups and downs – I’ve had to battle through injury, the fights for the titles, but when I sit there at home and I look at the trophy cabinet – it feels pretty good,” Purton said.

Douglas Whyte (1,813 Hong Kong wins) and Joao Moreira (1,240) are the only other riders to surpass the 1,000-win mark in Hong Kong, while Tony Cruz (946) and Brett Prebble (806) trail the trio in fourth and fifth spot on the all-time list.

Purton said: “It’s possible (to reach 2,000 winners) as long as I stay fit and healthy. There’s no doubt that I can get to it, so hopefully I can get to it as quick as I can because it’s a very big number to get to. It gives me something to think about and it gives me some direction for the next few months of the season.”

A dominant force in Hong Kong’s riding ranks in recent years, Purton is the third Australian to win a riding championship in the jurisdiction, after Gary Moore and Noel Barker. He has won top-level races in Australia, Japan, Singapore and Great Britain, notably the 2012 G1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) on Little Bridge for Shum at Royal Ascot.

Purton moved to 1,901 Hong Kong wins as South Star (129lb) sauntered to a third career win in the Class 3 Songs Of Victory Handicap (1650m) for trainer Frankie Lor. Purton then made it a treble aboard Akashvani (121lb) in the Class 3 Flying Handicap (1200m) for trainer David Hayes, who celebrated his 63rd birthday today.

Mark Newnham – who has tallied an unrivalled 17 wins through the first 13 fixtures – also grabbed a treble as Youthful Spirits (120lb) made all in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 The LONGINES Cup Handicap (1000m) under Luke Ferraris, who earlier drove King Oberon (123lb) to success for trainer Douglas Whyte in the first section of the Class 4 Swifty Handicap (1200m).

“This horse (Youthful Spirits) has given me sleepless nights. He’s just so frustrating with his racing pattern – he has a high head carriage, and he had that breathing problem. He is relaxing better in his races now, but the amount of seconds I’ve run on him (seven)…” Ferraris said.

“He was really good today, when he got to the furlong (200m) where he usually comes up for oxygen, he found another gear, which is all he needed to do to be winning races like this. Well done to Mark and his team – he’s been in superb condition and they’re flying.”

Newnham’s three-timer commenced when Looks Outstanding (119lb) dominated the second section of the Class 4 Swifty Handicap (1200m) with jockey Lyle Hewitson before Hong Kong International Sale graduate Super Unicorn (131lb) collected the Class 4 Racing Spirit Handicap (1650m) under Andrea Atzeni.

“It’s been a very good start to the season, but a very long way to go,” Newnham said. “For the two years I’ve been here, Pierre (Ng) had a big lead and just got run down and last year John Size was a long way behind and still won it, so I think we’ll start thinking about it in June or July.”

The third section of the Class 4 Swifty Handicap (1200m) went to Ellis Wong aboard Silver Spurs (118lb) for trainer Caspar Fownes. Beauty Thunder (121lb) bagged the Class 4 Speedy Handicap (1000m) for trainer Cody Mo and jockey Alexis Badel.

Hong Kong racing continues this Sunday (26 October) at Sha Tin with the running of the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m).