Hong Kong: Purton could take riding lead from sidelined Moreira

The tight duel between Joao Moreira and Zac Purton for the riding title in Hong Kong took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when Moreira was removed from his final eight mounts at Happy Valley Racecourse by racing officials because of chest pains.

While subsequent tests revealed no health issues, Moreira is not riding at Sha Tin Racecourse on Saturday. He is scheduled to resume racing on Tuesday at Happy Valley.

Going into Saturday’s Sha Tin program, Moreira led Purton, 127-126. The standings could very well be reversed after the 10-race program.

Purton has mounts in nine of the races, including the well-regarded Navas Two in a seven-furlong Class 2 handicap with a purse of $305,770.

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A winner of 5 of 15 starts, Navas Two closed from 11th through the stretch to finish second by a short head in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on June 5. The loss extended a losing streak to four races, but showed that Navas Two has retained the form that has led to three wins in his first four starts in Hong Kong for trainer Richard Gibson.

Navas Two is part of a field of 11 that includes the improving gelding Buzzinga and The Golden Scenery, who has been second or third in his last two starts in similar races.

Buzzinga has won 2 of 4 starts since arriving in Hong Kong and takes a jump in competition from a Class 3 handicap for horses with official ratings ranging from 60 to 80 to this Class 2 level for horses rates from 80 to 100.

Buzzinga is a closer who was beaten a neck in a six-furlong handicap for Class 3 runners on May 29, but finished well enough to suggest he can play an important role in this race. Karis Teetan, third in the Hong Kong standings with 70 wins, has the mount.

The Sha Tin program begins at 1 a.m. Eastern on Saturday or 10 p.m. Pacific on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.