Zac Purton fires in a four-timer as Derek Leung edges closer in Tony Cruz Award battle

By Leo Schlink

Already assured an eighth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Zac Purton slotted a quartet at Sha Tin on Saturday (5 July) as Derek Leung narrowed the gap to Matthew Poon in a tightening battle for the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading homegrown rider.

Purton took his Hong Kong career tally to a record-extending 1,872 wins after the Australian struck on Mr Energia and Magnifique for David Hall, Igor Stravinsky for Tony Cruz and David Hayes-trained Fortune Boy to have 132 wins for the campaign – 64 clear of nearest pursuer Hugh Bowman (68).

“It’s been good, all the horses have run well. It’s nice to have a reasonable day towards the end of the season,” Purton said.

Purton’s spree came as Leung edged closer to a third Tony Cruz Award after piloting Manfred Man-trained Celtic Times to victory in the Class 5 The Li Cup Handicap (1600m), a success which delivered Leung’s 250th win on Sha Tin turf.

“250 here on the turf? That’s not bad,” said Leung, who took his season tally to 33 wins as the battle for the Tony Cruz Award intensified. Trailing Matthew Poon (36) and Matthew Chadwick (34), Leung aims to add to the wins he posted in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

“I’ll do my best (to win). I’ve got to catch ‘The Train’ (Poon) first.”

Leung has now won on five successive race days, while Man equalled his previous best haul in a season with his 44th winner, matching his 2022/23 tally.

Hayes cut John Size’s lead in the trainers’ championship to seven after triumphing with Fortune Boy and Ka Ying Resilience, while Size kept his stable momentum intact with a rare Griffin success with two-year-old Alabama Song to hold sway 66 to 59 wins with three meetings left in the season.

Leading by eight wins at the start of the meeting, Size immediately increased the buffer when Alabama Song landed The Purves Quaich Plate (1200m) for Griffins under Brenton Avdulla before Hayes countered with Ka Ying Resilience in the Class 4 The Arculli Trophy Handicap (1200m) under Karis Teetan, who earlier struck on Frankie Lor’s Gimme Five, a runaway victor in the Class 5 Swaine Cup Handicap (1200m, dirt).

“We have been leading with the horse (Ka Ying Resilience) and he’s looked bit weak, so we thought we’d try and take a sit from a good barrier and hope that it would work and it really did,” Hayes said.

“I think next season we won’t be leading all the time with him, especially when he draws an inside gate. I think there’s a lot of upside in the horse next season. He’s a good horse to follow next year.”

Ellis Wong continued a searing form run, saluting on Caspar Fownes-trained Dancing Code (119lb) in the Class 2 The Philip Chen Trophy Handicap (1200m).

Ridden patiently, Dancing Code emerged from slipstream of the leaders to cut down Harmony N Blessed (121lb) and Lady’s Choice (133lb) to score his fourth win for celebrity owner Aaron Kwok.

“I’m so happy to win for the boss again and this owner. Today, with a good barrier (four) and the strong pace, he travelled really well for me and he tries really hard. He’s a small horse but he’s got a big heart,” Wong said. “He’s always fighting really hard. I love this horse.”

Purton and Hall combined to land the Class 4 The Wong Cup (1200m, dirt) with Mr Energia, who has now scored twice this season on the all-weather before Benno Yung’s Endued claimed the Class 4 The Chan Trophy Handicap (1400m) under Bowman.

Purton slotted his 130th win of the season aboard Cruz-trained Igor Stravinsky in the Class 4 The Stevenson Cup Handicap (1200m). A winner at Leopardstown for Aidan O’Brien, the four-year-old was having his sixth start in Hong Kong.

In a familiar domination, Purton piloted Hayes-trained Fortune Boy to narrow victory in the Class 4 Ip Jug Handicap (1800m) before teaming with Hall’s Magnifique to snare the Class 3 The Chow Silver Plate Handicap (1200m).

Angus Chung stymied Purton’s hopes of a five-timer aboard Patch Of Stars (135lb) when he coaxed the best out of Cruz-trained Beauty Crescent (118lb) in the Class 3 The Chairmen’s Day Handicap (1400m).

Winless in 32 previous Hong Kong starts, the Acclamation gelding won twice in Ireland for Ger Lyons before export.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (9 July).