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Much has happened since Zac Purton stepped off a plane in Hong Kong in 2007 as a fresh-faced 24-year-old with little profile beyond Australia. Nineteen seasons later, the Australian stands alone as the first jockey to ride 2,000 winners in the city, a milestone reached at Sha Tin on Sunday (31 May) that further cemented his place among the giants of Hong Kong racing.
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Luke Middlebrook's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Happy Valley.
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Zac Purton broke new ground at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 31 May) as the Australian became the first jockey to ride 2,000 winners in Hong Kong, reaching the milestone aboard Rising World (121lb) in the Hong Kong Wu Hua General Association Cup Plate (1200m) for Griffins.
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David Eustace and Jerry Chau – two of Hong Kong’s brightest racing talents – combined in memorable circumstances at Sha Tin on Sunday (31 May) to land the HK$4.2 million G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) with Light Years Charm (124lb) as Caspar Fownes edged closer to a fifth Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a double.
The biggest threat to Constitution River in Sunday’s Group 1 French Derby at Chantilly Racecourse turned out to be his stablemates.
Lovcen overcame a wide trip to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse, securing the first two divisions of the country’s Triple Crown.
Lovcen set a course record with his win in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April, a milestone that has left him a strong favorite to win the longest race of his career in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse.
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Constitution River and Daryzan lead the betting for Sunday's Group 1 French Derby at Chantilly Racecourse north of Paris after diverse starts to their careers.
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With the season nearing its climax, Sha Tin hosts two Group 3 contests on Sunday (31 May), which will feature two improving young gallopers reaching their peaks this term.
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Luke Middlebrook's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Sha Tin.
