Hong Kong circuit may see new leading rider

The Hong Kong racing circuit may have a new leading rider by the end of the weekend.

Leading rider Joao Moreira will miss the next two days of racing – Wednesday at Happy Valley and Sunday at Sha Tin – for causing interference in a race at Sha Tin on May 12. The stewards in Hong Kong often issue suspensions to be served several weeks after an infraction.

Going into Wednesday’s program, Moreira leads the standings with 116 wins, just three clear of Zac Purton. Purton rides all eight races on Wednesday’s Happy Valley’s evening program, the first at the urban venue since May 23.

Purton, a 35-year-old native of Australia, was the leading rider in Hong Kong in 2013-14. On Wednesday, he has contenders in the program's three leading races - $166,894 handicaps in the second, seventh, and eighth race.

In the second race, the Elgin Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf, Purton rides Super Chic, who was a troubled fourth in a race at 1 1/8 miles on May 16. Super Chic was a winner at Happy Valley in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on April 25 as the favorite, and will attract support again Wednesday.

Super Chic has a familiar rival in Giant Turtle, who was second in the April 25 race and a close fourth in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Sha Tin on May 6.

In the seventh race, the Staunton Handicap at five furlongs, Purton has the expected favorite in Dragon Pioneer, the winner of a five-furlong handicap under Moreira on May 16 for his first win in nine starts at the current Hong Kong season.

Dragon Pioneer is capable of leading throughout and has a favorable draw in post 5 in a field of 12. He may face pressure from Healthy Luck and Happy Cooperation, who have drawn posts to the inside and must show they can sustain their speed.

In the finale, three horses will carry topweight of 133 pounds in the Wyndham Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards – Friends of Ka Ying, Lucky Girl, and Pretty Bauhinia. Purton rides Friends of Ka Ying, a troubled third in a handicap over the same course and distance on May 9.
Friends of Ka Ying has one win in 29 career starts in Hong Kong, and is winless in nine starts at the current season. The inconsistency will draw some bettors to Multi Facets, who won a handicap at a mile and 50 yards at Happy Valley on May 23 in his first start at the track.