Australian jockey Zac Purton has claimed his third Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership but has fallen short of Joao Moreira’s season record of winners.
Purton needed four winners at the final meeting of the season at Sha Tin on Sunday to draw level with Moreira’s record of 170 set in 2016/17, and five wins to better that mark.
Purton claimed a winning double, finishing on 168 while ex-pat Australian trainer John Size clinched his 11th Hong Kong trainers’ premiership, edging out John Moore by three wins.
Size had gone into the final meeting two wins clear of Moore.
Purton finished 78 ahead of nearest rival Moreira in the jockeys’ standings.
“It’s amazing what I’ve been able to achieve this season – just getting to that number of winners, I don’t think anyone thought it was possible,” Purton told the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“It’s been an incredible season when you reflect back on the milestones, the records and the successes I’ve had – it’s quite astonishing and it’s going to be very hard to equal and extremely hard to top.
“I owe everything to the owners and trainers that give me the support. It’s one season that I think I’ll always remember for many different reasons.
“I wouldn’t have minded if this season had kept rolling on forever!”
Purton’s Group One wins include four on Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation trained by Moore.
