Purton v Moreira down to the wire

Luke Middlebrook

It is the final meeting of the Hong Kong season at Sha Tin on Saturday and much of the focus will be on the battle of the jockeys.

Wednesday at Happy Valley saw Joao Moreira draw level with Zac Purton in the jockeys’ championship on 132 winners apiece.

Moreira will need to outscore Purton on the day by virtue of two dead heats this season to Purton’s one, but the latter does have the better rides across the card. Moreira, however, is full of momentum.

Of Purton’s key chances on the day are trainer David Hayes’ progressive-looking three-year-old Global Harmony, who is at his second local start in the Class 3 1200m Handicap (Race 9).

Global Harmony made his local debut in a race of this nature 34 days ago, arriving a one-time winner and second place getter from Australia where he was known as Pagan. Off the back of some decent barrier trials, Global Harmony was sent off a $4.7 chance under Zac Purton from barrier No 7 but the pair found plenty of trouble over concluding stages and had to settle for a 1.50-length beaten margin into sixth place.

With the rail out widest in the C+3 position that day, it was a bunched field inside the straight, and Purton found himself hemmed up on the rails with nowhere to go, badly held up from the 300m until passing the 100m. Having trialled well since, Global Harmony, with a clear passage, can get on the board at his second start.

Moreira’s ride in that race, Adios, is at his third local start and has done little wrong so far. He finished a promising runner-up on debut before fading late into sixth, beaten 2.75 lengths, after a change in tactics.

Another promising three-year-old in that race is trainer Ricky Yiu’s impressive debut winner Lucky Eight. Putting away his Class 4 rivals with the utmost of ease on debut at this track and distance 27 days ago, Lucky Eight rises 10 points in the handicap and finds himself against stiffer competition.

He has also drawn out wide which won’t do him any favours but he clearly has nice ability and will be one to follow next season.

Purton also has a great chance to secure the jockeys’ title aboard trainer Douglas Whyte’s four-year-old Turin Redsun in Race 8, the Class 1 1600m Handicap.

Turin Redsun is off the back of a luckless second place in the Grade 3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) after jockey Matthew Poon was questioned and warned at length by the stewards post-race to ensure “he positions his mounts in such a manner to allow them the best opportunity to improve into the race at the appropriate time and obtain clear running”.

Put simply, Turin Redsun should have won the race. However, with Purton up from barrier No 4, Turin Redsun will be getting his best chance to breakthrough locally.

Moreira’s mount Money Catcher is also itching to shed his local maiden tag and he can prove a threat to Purton’s chances in that race. He has placed six times in his nine local starts but it’ll be the first time Moreira jumps aboard the Frankie Lor-trained four-year-old.