Zac Purton | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Size’-ing Up a Fourth Derby

Hong Kong's 4-year-old Classic series concludes with the running of the HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, and while no one will confuse any of the 14 runners signed on for Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who became the second to sweep the series in 2020, or last year's winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who has gone on to multiple Group 1 victories in unrestricted company, it is a race that–in theory–is wide open.

Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) was the front-running winner of the first leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, as Jamie Kah lulled them to sleep, but, as commentator Mark McNamara put it, 'the Bubble burst' 300 metres from the wire in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) when he capitulated readily and Super Sunny Sing (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) whistled home down the centre for Golden Sixty's jockey Vincent Ho. Neither of those gallopers will be fancied to add a second leg in the Derby, but rather Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is the likely favourite despite making his Classic series debut. Zac Purton, who won the 2015 Derby aboard Luger (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), rides from gate seven for the latter's trainer John Size. The perennial leading conditioner is in search of a fourth victory in the domestic centrepiece, all since 2012.

“I think it's fine,” Size said of the draw. “Zac has options from there and I'm sure that he'll have a better idea of what he wants to do according to who's drawn around him, but I think seven is fine. It wouldn't seem like it's any great disadvantage.”

Super Sunny Sing will rightfully have his fair share of admirers off a fast-finishing victory over Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah) in the Classic Cup, while Galaxy Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) also got home strongly from the back of the field to be third three weekends ago.

Click here for our special BMW Hong Kong Derby insert.

The nominal Sunday co-feature is the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over seven furlongs, where G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile victor California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) figures a strong favourite against the two most recent winners of the race–Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in 2021 and last year's victor Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}).

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Artorius Set For Audacious Royal Ascot And Everest Double

Group 1 winner Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) will likely return to Royal Ascot this year seeking to better his third-place finish behind Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in 2022, co-owner Henry Field of Newgate Farm told TDN Aus/NZ.

“As long as he's going well and he's healthy, that's definitely the plan,” Field said. “He was unluckily beaten last year in the Platinum Jubilee when he was held up at a vital stage, and I think he can go back there. There's no question he's got the ability, and he's more seasoned from the experience.”

Before Ascot, the 4-year-old is set to make his seasonal debut in the G1 Canterbury S. at Royal Randwick on Mar. 4. Leading Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton will be aboard and will ride in his native Australia for the first time since the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup.

“Artorius is a very important horse to us,” Field said. “He has such an elite profile that we had to think outside the square rider-wise, and Zac is one of the dominant riders anywhere in the world right now. He's probably as good a rider as there's ever been in Hong Kong, and a very strong rider that we thought would suit Artorius nicely.”

Artorius was also third in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket and hasn't run since a sixth-place finish in the G1 Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Aug. 7.

The colt will likely return to Australia to contest the G1 Everest S. at Royal Randwick on Oct. 14 in what will likely be his final start in that richest sprint race the world has to offer at A$15.

“I'd say it will be very likely he'll be retired to stud at the end of this season, but I do genuinely believe he is a horse with enough natural ability to win an Everest, so those conversations will be had with the ownership group,” Field said.

Artorius has not won a race since taking the 2021 G1 Blue Diamond S. but has placed in five Group 1s. He won a trial race at Warwick Farm last week in preparation for his comeback. His career line stands at 14-2-3-4 and he has amassed A$1,808,349 in prize-money.

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Hong Kong Superstar Purton to Ride Artorius in Australia

Top Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton will return to ride in his native Australia for the first time since the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup, Australia's News Corp. reported.

The 40-year-old reinsman will pilot Group 1 winner Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) in the G1 Canterbury S., the 2-year-old King's Gambit (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) in the G2 Todman S. and possibly Communist (Aus) (Russian Revolution {Aus}) in the G1 Randwick Guineas, all at Royal Randwick on Mar. 4.

“I am coming back to ride Artorius in the Canterbury Stakes and some other very good horses,” Purton told News Corp. “It works out well because I got suspended [Sunday] in Hong Kong and I start my suspension after I ride in Sydney, so maybe I can spend a bit of extra time there [in Australia.

Purton has won Group 1 races in five countries since he started riding in 2007.

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Lucky Sweynesse Makes Amends In Centenary Sprint Cup

Having endured a luckless run when sixth to Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) as the odds-on favourite in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in early December, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) was given a positive ride from Zac Purton and proved easily best in Sunday's G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Drawn widest in a field of eight, the 4-year-old was under a hustling ride from the bell, but was ultimately happy to allow Hong Kong Sprint runner-up Sight Success (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) to dictate the running as Wellington found a good spot in the one-out and one-back position. Stationed right off the front-runner's hip as they raced into the final 600 metres, Lucky Sweynesse finally edged past a stubborn Sight Success deep inside the final furlong and held sway for a first top-level score. Wellington earned the photo for second while never a menace to the winner.

The victory was especially sweet for 65-year-old trainer Manfred Man, who would otherwise be facing compulsory retirement, but was given a reprieve earlier in the week by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“I can only say thank you to the Jockey Club for giving me the chance, I will try my best,” said Man, sitting on 23 winners for the season. The conditioner saddled Eagle Regiment (Aus) (El Moxie) to consecutive wins in this event when it was contested over 1000 metres in 2012 and 2013.

Purton was pleased to help Man achieve his first international Group 1 as a trainer, and said: “There was nothing I could do in the [Hong Kong Sprint]. We drew the wrong gate [barrier three] and we just got locked away. I was just disappointed for Manfred. It was his big chance and it doesn't sit well with me at not being able to deliver for him, but hopefully today has gone some way to repaying him.”

Man indicated that connections would swerve any overseas targets in favour of the local sprint series, which continues with the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup next month. He could square off there with Wellington and, possibly, G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

Lucky Sweynesse is the first Group 1 winner for his sire (by Lonhro {Aus}), a multiple Group 3 winner and twice placed at the highest level for Godolphin and trainer John O'Shea in the mid 2010s. Purchased for NZ$90,000 out of the 2020 NZB Ready To Run Sale, Lucky Sweynesse has a yearling half-brother by Contributer (Ire) and his dam most recently missed when bred back to Sweynese. Lucky Sweynesse's full-sister Signora Nera, third in the G1 Queensland Oaks, was represented by her first foal in 2022, a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY SPRINT CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-5, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.12, gd.
1–LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ), 126, g, 4, by Sweynesse (Aus)
1st Dam: Madonna Mia (NZ) (SW-NZ, $134,764), by Red Clubs (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hill of Hope (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Macozie (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung, Cheng Yu Tung, Cheng Mei Mei & Chen Yu Wai; B-P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock; T-Manfred Man K L; J-Zac Purton; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 13-9-2-1, HK$22,795,200. *Full to Signora Nera (NZ), G1SP-Aus, $145,027. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wellington (Aus), 126, g, 6, All Too Hard (Aus)–Mihiri (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann; T-Richard Gibson; J-Alexis Badel; HK$2,640,000.
3–Sight Success (Aus), 126, g, 6, Magnus (Aus)–Tarp (Aus), by Bletchley Park (Ire). (A$45,000 Ylg '18 MGCFEB). O-Tam Wing Kun; B-G R Daws (WA); T-John Size; J-Vagner Borges; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1HF, NO, HF. Odds: 7-10, 2-1, 39-5.
Also Ran: Courier Wonder (NZ), Sky Field (Aus), Super Wealthy (Aus), Duke Wai (NZ), Master Eight (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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