Purton pressures Moreira in Hong Kong jockey race

Zac Purton is keeping the jockey’s race close in Hong Kong this year.

Since the season began in September, Purton has won 36 races, five less than leader Joao Moreira, the runaway leader in the last two seasons.

Purton won the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday and has leading chances in two of the top races at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday.

Purton rides Go Beauty Go in the second division of the Hydrangea Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards on turf, the seventh race on the program, and G-One Lover in the eighth race, the Roselle Handicap at six furlongs on turf.

Go Beauty Go is winless in seven starts in Hong Kong this season and was sixth in his latest race, a handicap on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin on Dec. 3. On Nov. 8, Go Beauty Go was beaten a half-length when second in a handicap on turf at Happy Valley, a race that would make him competitive on Wednesday.

Go Beauty Go is part of a field of 12 that includes Easy Hedge, a troubled third in a handicap at Happy Valley on Nov. 29. Sam Clipperton rides Easy Hedge. Moreira rides Mister Monte, who was a game third despite trouble in a handicap on Nov. 22.

G-One Lover overcame trouble to finish second in a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley on Nov. 29. Purton rides the 6-year-old gelding for the first time Wednesday.

The horse to beat is California Fortune, who was sixth in his Hong Kong debut Nov. 11, but rebounded to win a six-furlong turf race at Happy Valley on Nov. 29. Matthew Chadwick rides California Fortune, who was a winner in Australia earlier this year.

The first division of the Hydrangea Handicap is the sixth race. Purton does not have a mount, while Moreira rides Pretty Bauhinia, who was a troubled sixth Nov. 15. California Joy, who has been a close third and fourth in his last two starts, will carry 124 pounds since apprentice jockey Matt Poon claims seven pounds.

The Happy Valley program begins at 6:15 a.m., Eastern.