Zac Purton hopes Beauty Eternal can help accelerate the Australian’s momentum towards Hong Kong racing history when the pair tackles the Class 1 Hong Kong Macau Trophy Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.
With 19 meetings left in the season, Purton has already amassed 132 winners and needs 39 more to eclipse Joao Moreira’s record of 170 victories in 2016/17 for the most wins in a Hong Kong season and with seven wins from 24 rides so far this month, the five-time champion is on track to threaten Moreira’s mark.
Of Purton’s ten mounts at the weekend, John Size-trained Beauty Eternal shapes as the most compelling as the talented four-year-old chases a sixth victory at his eighth start in an impressive first preparation.
“He’s (Beauty Eternal) done a really good job this season, he hasn’t let us down, he’s turned up every time and he did that again last time,” Purton said of the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) third place-getter.
“Last time, coming back from the Derby distance (to 1400m), he took quite a while to accelerate and get into top gear and he only just got there on the line. This time, hopefully we can get into it a little bit earlier and help him with the distance.
“He hasn’t really had an ideal ‘prep’ to his career so far, we had to rush him to get to the Derby – he stepped from 1200m to 1400m to 2000m – and had to be freshened up to come back to 1400m last time.
“The way he got to the line it looked like a mile might be his best distance but here we are again at 1400m and it’s probably the first time since the early start to his career that he’s run at the same distance two times in a row.
“He hasn’t been able to get into the groove, as such, but he’s been doing a really good job and hopefully he can continue on with that.”
Leading Vincent Ho (72 winners) by 60 in the 2022/23 Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Purton is equivocal about his chances of breaking Moreira’s record.
“If you look at the numbers, the amount of winners I’ve ridden, the good winners I’ve ridden and horses I’ve ridden, you would probably look at it and say I’ve had a good season or an excellent season, but I just feel like I’ve been grinding and haven’t really been going as well as I would have liked,” Purton said.
“A few of the trainers I thought I might get a little more support from haven’t really got behind me so it’s been a little bit frustrating and I’ve had a lot of bad gates, but you’ve just got to deal with what’s thrown at you, but I want to be going better than I am.”
Also enjoying an outstanding season, Ho will look to add more gloss when he partners Francis Lui’s last-start winner Golden Samurai in the first section of Class 4 Friendship Bridge Handicap (1400m).
“It (winning) was quite a surprise, to be honest, last time. We expected him to improve but we didn’t expect him to win the race. He travelled so well that day and had a nice kick in the straight, so it was a good surprise,” said Ho, who has already eclipsed his previous-best career haul of 67 winners.
“Lately, he has improved through his trials and gallops and he feels even better than last time. It will be interesting to see how he handles 1400m. He’s quite mature. I feel like he will just keep on improving. He’s a strong, big boy.”
Pierre Ng is optimistic Healthy Healthy can become his stable’s latest winner when the gelding contests the Class 4 Sai Van Bridge Handicap (1000m).
“Last time, he was a bit unlucky so this time we hopefully get a smoother start. Definitely, he’s green. He hasn’t done any barrier trials before he came to Hong Kong, so we have to do everything here but for the first ‘prep’, he’s done pretty much a good job,” Ng said.
“I know he’ll keep improving and he’ll be a very nice four-year-old.” - Hong Kong Jockey Club
Race-by-Race Previews
Race 1: Over The Moon has been placed last two starts and deserves a win soon. This is a moderate Class 5 where he looks as though he’ll get every chance to break through. Pakistan Friend second start in this grade after dropping in class and could improve with Purton taking the ride. Red Elysees good performance when storming home for a nice second last start in Class 4. Class 5 will suit. Lucky Missile has ability and is always dangerous in this grade. The low draw should ensure a smooth map. Red Impact good performance when storming home for third place last start.
Race 2: E Brother a fast beginner who can run well if he finds an easy lead, which he should here. He can take catching. Super Highway backing up quickly from last week when winning well, can run well again. Awesome Treasure can bounce back a winner anytime in this class. From barrier 1 he should map just off the pace in a good spot. Timestorm has been knocking on the door and win won’t surprise anyone. Leather Vanguard bled last start and has been rested. Trialled quietly for his return and can easily surprise.
Race 3: Multisuper holding form with recent good trial and looks in good form. Reay to win. Po On Way turned in a very nice debut run over 1000m and looks to have good ability. He should relish the rise to 1200m second-up. Pulsar Strider down in class in this race and should perform better. Purton rides for the first time and improvement is to be expected. Gluck Racer has dropped a lot in the ratings and can easily win on true form. Barrier 1 should ensure a great run. Pins Prince bled last start and has been rested. Chance to run well first-up.
Race 4: Midas Touch newcomer who looks a winning chance after impressing at the trials. Drawn well in barrier 10 for the straight and finds a winnable race. Healthy Healthy last start placing was full of merit, nice effort and can test the first selection. Innoconstruction remains a maiden galloper but clearly gets a chance to win here. High Percentage has trialled well for debut and should be rated a chance. Barrier 1 isn’t ideal for the straight, but it depends on where the jockey can place him in the run. Always Awesome having second start and can improve with experience.
Race 5: Charmander go on solid previous effort where form looked good. This is a wide-open race but, importantly, he comes into a low draw here, which should make a world of difference. Win Win generally gets back in the running but dashes strongly home. His recent runs have been encouraging. Peak To Peak drawn well here and should be in the finish. This shapes as a good race for him to show up on the light weight. Storm Legend will win in this grade very soon but a wide drawn for the apprentice isn’t ideal. Speed Fay Fay last start winner who remains in the same grad.
Race 6: Golden Samurai more than capable of winning again in this race after breaking through second-up last start. He has since trialled well and finds a winnable race. He seems at least better than Class 4 quality. Flamingo Trillion improving type and getting close to a win. The low draw enhances his chances. Ariel drops down in grade and start following. D Star consistent performer of late and worth considering. However, he will need luck from out wide. Solar Partner narrowly beaten last start and goes close here first-up.
Race 7: Beauty Eternal highly promising four-year-old and is clearly the one to beat. This isn’t the strongest of Class 1 races and he will be expected to take this out with ease. Circuit Stellar looks a solid good chance based on last start when runner-up to Beauty Eternal. Cheerful Days finished powerfully with fastest sectional time ranking last start for an improved effort. Fantastic Treasure generally gets back in the running but dashes strongly home. He loves the track and distance. Red Lion had genuine excuses last start and can improve in this race.
Race 8: Happy Golf rising in class and meets better quality horses but can measure up after winning his last two races easily in Class 4. He looked well in a trial since, has drawn well low and will be getting every chance. Excellent Fighter is the other stand out. Barrier 11 is the query for him, but he does have the early speed to offset that. Bundle Of Charm has been placed last two starts and deserves a win soon. He is back in form and can be followed. Flying Ace talented galloper who is resuming from a long break. Watch the betting. Reve Parisien good effort last start leading all the way to win.
Race 9: Golden Artie last start winner who remains in the same grade and will be running well again. California Voce having second start and can improve with experience. His debut run was good. Sinba should be highly suited by the drop back in distance as the mile seems to find him out. Brave Dreams generally gets back in the running but dashes strongly home.
Race 10: Unpresuming video replay showed last run was very good when not much luck from a wide draw. Look back two starts ago on his first Class 3 run when drawn low and third to Mighty Stride – that’s good enough form for a race like this as he comes into a lower draw (4). Happy Together good performance when storming home for a nice second last start. Star Contact had genuine excuses last start and can improve in this race. The Best Peach last start winner who remains in the same grade. War Weapon was an easy last start winner and must be respected.