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Zac Purton Captures Record-Equaling Third LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship

Zac Purton has joined Douglas Whyte and Frankie Dettori as a triple winner of the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship, claiming the title without a victory in the four-race series at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (Dec. 8) to add further luster to a phenomenal resume.

Four days after overtaking Whyte as the winner of the most prizemoney as a jockey in Hong Kong racing history, Purton amassed 22 points with three seconds and a third under the 12 points for a win, six for second and four for third format.

The Australian's consistency propelled him to a third title in five seasons in the HK$800,000 (about US$102,000) series, having previously triumphed in 2017 and 2020.

With second placings on Glorious Lover, Amazing One Plus and Shining Gem and a third on Circuit Seven, Purton out-pointed the winners of the four individual championship legs – Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle, James McDonald and Mickael Barzalona – who shared a four-way tie for second with 12 points each.

Purton, 38, earned HK$500,000 (about US$64,000), while the runners-up collected HK$75,000 (about US$9,600).

Purton was elated to prevail again despite the frustrating run of minor placings.

“I came here a little bit worried about the quality of horses I was riding and knew that I was going to need things go my way and luckily I was able to get some nice runs on them and give them their chances,” he said.

“It was a bit frustrating I kept getting beaten in those photos, but I suppose that makes for good racing and a good competition. The points added up, it's very satisfying.”

In an engrossing battle for supremacy, defending champion Purton was one of seven riders with a mathematical chance of winning the series heading into the last leg, leading with 16 points, with Marquand, Doyle and McDonald locked in a three-way tie for second with 12 points.

Alexis Badel (six), Ryan Moore and Joao Moreira (four each) also had the chance to overtake Purton.

But Barzalona's driving finish on John Size's Elon in the final leg enabled the Frenchman to snare 12 points, leaving Purton to clinch the series with six points for second on Shining Gem with Moore receiving four points for Hong Kong Bet's third.

In a competition where visiting riders won all four legs, Englishman Marquand shot to the top of the table with victory on Hayes-trained Awesome Treasure in the first leg, a Class 4 handicap over 1000m, claiming the maximum 12 points. Badel collected six points aboard Fabulous Eight, with Purton scooping four points on Circuit Seven.

Hayes, who celebrated a double at the meeting, was delighted to share victory with Marquand, who rode in Australia for the dual Hong Kong champion trainer in 2019.

“I had a bit of luck with him (Marquand) when no-one knew him in Australia. I loved his strength that last 200 (metres),” said Hayes, who also snared a Happy Valley brace last week.

“It's nice to keep things moving and long may it continue.”

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Marquand said: “My first foreign forays were down in Australia for David when I'd had just under a year's riding and I had a bit of success there. It's absolutely great to be back riding for him here.

“This win ranks extremely highly in my career because riding against the world's best jockeys, it's pretty hard to top.”

Doyle soon matched her fiancée Marquand's feat, displaying tremendous strength aboard Manfred Man's Viva Hunter in the second leg, a Class 4 over 1650m. Purton earned six points for second atop Glorious Lover, while Moore picked up four points on Ai One.

Doyle said: “I thought I had been headed home. It (winning) is just as good if not better (than last year). It's good to have a crowd here, it lifts the atmosphere and I'm blessed to have had the luck I've had.

“It's very special to win against the world's best jockeys and it's a huge honour for Tom and I to be asked back here.”

McDonald delivered Caspar Fownes-trained Invincible Missile with impeccable timing to annexe the third leg, a Class 3 over 1650m, leaving Purton to earn six points for second on Amazing One Plus with Moreira pocketing four points on Red Majesty.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 December) with the staging of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races with the running of four G1s – the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Hong Kong Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

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Sealiway, Baaeed Win on Champions Day At Ascot, Earn Guaranteed Spots In BC Turf, Mile

Le Haras De La Gousserie's Sealiway (FR) struck for France to win a thrilling renewal of the Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse in England. With this victory, Sealiway gained an automatic place in the $4 million Longines Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 86 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

Sealiway was last seen only 13 days ago when finishing fifth in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Trained by Cedric Rossi, the 3-year-old colt came from off the pace to lead in the straight and dug deep to hold off a late challenge from Dubai Honour (IRE). The eventual winner was three-quarters of a length clear under jockey Mickael Barzalona in a pulsating finish. The Irish-trained Mac Swiney (IRE) kept on for third, with favorite Mishriff (IRE) back in fourth.

Following his success, Barzalona said: “It is great to be part of this big event and I have been lucky with this horse. It is the beginning and he deserved to prove his talent like he did today. The team were very confident – it was tough race, but he did it well.”

Off at 12/1, Sealiway, a chestnut son of Galiway (GB) out of the Kendargent (FR) mare Kensea (FR), finished the 1 ¼ miles in 2:08:31 over a course listed as good to soft, and soft in places.

Baaeed dominates Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Shadwell Estate Company's Baaeed (GB) retained his unbeaten record by winning the one-mile Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO). The victory secured the son of Frankel (GB) an automatic starting position and fees paid into this year's $2 million Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Baaeed (2/1), trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jim Crowley, traveled strongly throughout the race and showed a sparkling turn of foot in an exciting finish. The 3-year-old held off favorite Palace Pier (GB) by a neck, with Lady Bowthorpe (GB) running another big race in third.

Crowley, speaking after the race, said: “He's just a beast, he just keeps on getting better. The ground is a bit slow for him. I think [if there was] quicker ground, he would have probably picked up a bit better, but he's come a long way in a short space of time. He's a proper champion.”

Baaeed, a bay son of Sea The Stars (IRE) out of the Kingmambo mare Aghareed, finished the 1-mile in 1:42:57.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Sealiway to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and Baaeed to start in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, which will both be run on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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Champion Glory For Galiway’s Sealiway

After a few days where moving the date of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe had been mooted and widely-discussed, Haras de la Gousserie's Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) proved that the 13-day turnaround from the ParisLongchamp monument to Ascot's G1 QIPCO Champion S. holds no fears with a career-defining success in Saturday's feature. While most of the focus had been on how Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) would deal with being backed up from ParisLongchamp, it was the bargain €62,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate Sealiway who bounced back from a fifth placing there to scoop this prestigious prize after a tussle with Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}). Travelling with enthusiasm in fourth early in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, last year's impressive G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero got to Adayar and to the front two out and battled hard to see off the supplemented Dubai Honour and prevail by 3/4 of a length. There was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in third, with the 13-8 favourite Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) a length away in fourth. “It's great to be back in the big time,” Barzalona said of the Cedric Rossi-trained 12-1 shot. “I've been with him since the beginning and he deserved that. The team said he had improved a lot since the Arc run, so although it was a tough race they were pretty confident. He showed plenty of stamina in the Arc, but today he showed plenty of speed and is just an excellent horse.”

Out early as a juvenile last term, Sealiway had won over six furlongs on debut at Saint-Cloud in May and at Chantilly in June before finishing third in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over seven at ParisLongchamp in July. Taking Vichy 's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles by five lengths the following month, the chestnut had run second in the G3 Prix la Rochette back at ParisLongchamp in September prior to his eight-length romp in the Lagardere on Arc day. Fifth after meeting some trouble in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November, he returned to be second in the Apr. 18 G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and eighth in the May 16 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over a mile at ParisLongchamp before moving up in trip.

No match for the Poulains hero St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) when second in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 6, he was reappearing for the first time when finishing off strongly late under Franck Blondel to finish 3/4 of a length behind the fourth-placed Adayar at 58-1 in the Arc. Entitled to come on for that first effort off a lengthy break, he was fresh and keen throughout the early stages as last year's winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Adayar made it honest in front. As he had two Sundays ago, Adayar looked turning for home as if he might be stretching the field, but his finish was not as dynamic as it had been here in July nor at Epsom before that and as Sealiway loomed at his side the game was up. Mishriff tried hard to get on terms with the French challenger before fading, while Mac Swiney had his run interrupted by Dubai Honour and had to switch inside. Sealiway's sole danger late was another who took part in Arc weekend, but the impressive G2 Prix Dollar winner Dubai Honour was never quite able to find that extra surge to get past as the 3-year-olds took command.

William Haggas said of the runner-up, “Dubai Honour was a little bit unfortunate, because he's a hold up horse drawn in stall 10. Adayar missed the break and just as James [Doyle] was trying to get him in, Adayar went hurtling past him and set him alight a bit. No excuse, we were quite far back but that's the way he needs to be ridden. He came with what looked like a winning run, but the other horse outstayed him. He's another that has made great progress. I was thinking that the Hong Kong Cup might suit him. He would enjoy that long straight and seems to run well right-handed. I don't know about Australia for him yet.”

Charlie Appleby said of Adayar, who ended up fifth, “Will said it was the ground. He was always just doing too much really and it paid up the straight. Will just said his exertions paid towards the end. At the end of the day, we made the decision to come here and maybe it was a tougher race than we thought in the Arc. We'll put him away for the winter and we've got a nice horse for next year. We know we can step him back up to 12 furlongs too. We know how to set our stall out next year. Today there was not going to be any natural pace and he was just over-racing and it paid towards the end.” Mishriff's rider David Egan said of the beaten favourite, “He is a better horse on better ground.”

Sealiway is out of the Listed Prix Herod winner Kensea (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), whose full-brother to the winner Seagali (Fr) sold to the MAB Agency for €115,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville September Yearling Sale and whose Seagala (Fr) also by Galiway was a €380,000 purchase by SARL Trotting Bloodstock at the recent Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale. This is the family of the listed-placed Exit To Nowhere pair of Enjoleur (Fr) and Epicurien (Fr), the G2 Prix Malleret scorer Another Dancer (Groom Dancer) and the G3 Park Express S. winner Pollen (Ire) (Orpen).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO CHAMPION S.-G1, £1,260,000, Ascot, 10-16, 3yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:08.31, g/s.
1–SEALIWAY (FR), 127, c, 3, by Galiway (GB)
1st Dam: Kensea (Fr) (SW-Fr), by Kendargent (Fr)
2nd Dam: Sea Island (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire)
3rd Dam: Equatoriale (Fr), by Saint Estephe (Fr)
(€62,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Le Haras de la Gousserie; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Cedric Rossi; J-Mickael Barzalona. £714,546. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Fr, G1SW-Fr, 12-5-3-1, $1,876,650. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dubai Honour (Ire), 127, g, 3, Pride of Dubai (Aus)–Mondelice (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (110,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Mohamed Obaida; B-Macha Bloodstock/Meridian International (IRE); T-William Haggas. £270,900.
3–Mac Swiney (Ire), 127, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Halla Na Saoire (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O-Mrs J. S. Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). £135,576.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 1. Odds: 12.00, 6.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Mishriff (Ire), Adayar (Ire), Addeybb (Ire), Foxes Tales (Ire), Al Aasy (Ire), Euchen Glen (GB). Scratched: Bolshoi Ballet (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Shamardal’s Fleur d’Iris Leads Home Fabre Exacta in Paris

Fresh from the familiar routine of a record-setting exercise in the G3 Prix des Chenes, master trainer Andre Fabre worked to rule and equalled the lauded Francois Boutin's haul of six with Godolphin's 2-year-old filly Fleur d'Iris (GB) (Shamardal) in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Aumale at ParisLongchamp. The homebred bay had earlier posted a July 7 debut fourth at Chantilly, breaking through at the expense of the reopposong Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}) in a Compiegne conditions heat later that month, and went postward as the 17-10 favourite for this G1 Prix Marcel Boussac pointer coming back off a runner-up finish in Deauville's Aug. 21 G2 Prix du Calvados. Out front and in control for most of the one-mile contest, she was nudged along when threatened passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden clear before gearing down to allow stablemate and Marcel Boussac entry Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reduce arrears to a flattering 1 1/2-length proximity at the line. Christophe Ferland trainee Bahasa (Ire) (Siyouni {Ire}) finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

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