Riding one hundred winners for ten consecutive seasons is the high bar that Zac Purton is likely to sail over at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Purton currently sits on 98 winners for the 2025/26 season … exactly double the amount of winners landed to date by High Bowman who sits second place in the Jockey’s Championship on 49 winners.
It, basically, is a repeat of last season which Purton rounded off by being 66 winners clear of Bowman (138 to 72). Clearly Purton is in one race … against himself, if you like, to see how far he can push the envelope … and the rest of the jockeys are in another race, that being for second place in the Premiership.
So, you can credit Bowman for winning his race.
Seldom, in racing, has there been a story of such dominance over such a long period of time as Purton has achieved.
Sure it comes with the opportunities to ride the best horses for the best trainers, but that privilege is hard-earned and hard to hold … more so than it might seem … with the expectations and the pressure involved in that situation ready to impact negatively on the rider if he shows any weakness at any time.
Purton though, through both his professional demeanour and performance, has ensured that his position has just got stronger and stronger with each passing season until he has basically blown all competition away.
For all of that has gone before though, one hundred winners in a season is still something to celebrate.
With Purton having seven rides on the card on Sunday … that should do it for this season.
