Jockey Zac Purton takes lead in the Hong Kong premiership stakes 🙌

Australian jockey Zac Purton has hit the front in the race to claim the Hong Kong jockeys premiership after riding two winners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Purton and Brazillian Joao Moreria have battled to-and-fro all season in the bid to be Hong Kong’s champion jockey with Purton takin a slim lead of 116 to 114 wins as the duo now shift their attention to Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Australian went in with the slimmest of leads, but after riding a double on Wednesday, he has pushed that lead to two. 

Two for @zpurton!

Hong Kong’s champion jockey bags a double as Victoriam cruises to victory. 2⃣🙌 #HKracing pic.twitter.com/pg7iQfpWHX

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 13, 2020

Purton began his Hong Kong career in 2007/08 and broke through for his first championship title in the city in 2013/14, notching 112 winners that season to become the first Australian since Douglas Whyte to win Hong Kong’s top award.

Moreria has won the championship title on three occasions, narrowly beating out Purton twice in what has become an epic battle between the two hoops over the last five seasons. 

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, 17 May where both hoops have an almost-full book of rides.

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