Hong Kong’s jockeys have faced their share of challenges across the past few seasons, and while the shadow of Covid-19 is now gone, the lead-up to the 2023-24 campaign has again been anything but straightforward.
First, it was Super Typhoon Saola wreaking havoc in Hong Kong, forcing the closure of Sha Tin for two days, then Thursday night’s torrential rain again brought the city to a standstill just days out from Sunday’s season opener.
“It’s been the worst preparation to the start of a season I’ve ever had,” said reigning champion jockey Zac Purton.
“The hardest thing for us is we come back overweight and unfit. We schedule our exercise regime, and we know day by day that if we get to this mark and that mark with our weight, we can keep working on it, and by the time we get to game day, we’re where we need to be.
“We had two days put aside for the typhoon, and then it was Sunday, so it was like three days off. It was nearly back to the start again, and now this [rain]. It’s frustrating.
“Even more so for the horses because they need their regular exercise, especially when they’re going into a race first up for the season. It throws everything out of whack for them. Everyone’s in the same boat, but it’s not easy to prepare them the way they’d like to.”
Purton, whose lightest ride on Sunday comes in at 124 pounds, was banking on using Friday morning’s trackwork session and 10 trials as part of his preparation for opening day. Instead, he was stuck inside as he pondered what he might be capable of this campaign.
There was not much he could not do in 2022-23, storming to a single-season record of 179 wins, sailing past 1,600 career victories and banking three Group One successes for good measure.
Purton also secured his sixth premiership and is the raging hot favourite to bag a seventh this term, even if reaching the lofty heights of last season seems rather unlikely.
While the window between Joao Moreira’s September departure and Hugh Bowman’s November arrival, which coincided with Karis Teetan’s spell on the sidelines, helped Purton lay the foundation for his record push – he had more wins in October than any other month – the Australian begins his 2023-24 campaign as part of what looks a more balanced jockeys’ roster.
Bowman is here to start the season this time, Teetan is fit and firing, injured local superstar Vincent Ho Chak-yiu could return next week, and Keagan de Melo and Andrea Atzeni have arrived to bolster ranks also boasting the likes of Lyle Hewitson, Matthew Chadwick, Derek Leung Ka-chun, Alexis Badel and Luke Ferraris.
“Every year is different. We’ve had three trainers leave and two trainers arrive, so that – along with the two new jockeys – changes the dynamic a little bit as well. Every season presents different obstacles to overcome. We’ll see how it plays out,” Purton said.
“We’ve got a solid roster, but I think we’ve always had a solid roster. You don’t get a licence to ride in Hong Kong unless you’re in the upper echelon of your jurisdiction.
“I always think everything over 100 wins is the mark of a good season. As I’ve always said, there have only been three jockeys in the history of Hong Kong racing to ride 100 or more winners in a season, so if you get to 100, you’ve had a good season. Anything above that’s a bonus.
“I want to ride as many winners as I can and win some big races. That’s what it’s all about. If I can have a season 80 per cent as good as last season, it’s going to be a good season.”
Among Purton’s opening-day book is superstar sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, who gives his rivals 20 pounds in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m).
“He’s a bit fat, fitness-wise he’s not at his top and he’s got to carry a lot of weight, so he’s got some things against him. But he continues to turn up and deliver, so I’m expecting him to do the same,” the jockey said of his feature-race mount.
