Zac Purton will miss Ka Ying Rising’s run in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on February 23 after breaking his left big toe in Sunday’s horror three-horse pile up at Sha Tin.
Sent flying into the Sha Tin turf after Legend St Paul’s broke down and skittled his mount, Silvery Breeze, in Sunday’s ninth event, Purton will undergo surgery on his toe on Monday morning.
The seven-time champion jockey has been told he is facing at least four weeks out of the saddle.
“It’s heartbreaking. I’ll miss Ka Ying, I’ll miss Galaxy Patch [in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m)], I’ll miss Packing Angel [in the Classic Cup (1,800m)]. Hopefully I can get back for the Derby,” Purton told the Post.
“The toe is broken and it needs to be realigned. They’re trying to work out whether they’re going to put in screws and a plate, or pin it.
“I’ve also damaged ligaments in the same ankle and the ankle is obviously very swollen. I haven’t really had a chance to put any weight on it yet, so we’ll see how that goes.
“It’s obviously disappointing but it could have been worse than what it was.”
Purton had been in white-hot form before the tumble, racking up 20 winners in January and four already in February, including two earlier on Sunday’s card.
He has been in the saddle for nine of Ka Ying Rising’s 10 wins, including eight of his current nine in a row featuring two Group One successes.
Teetan is the other jockey to win aboard Ka Ying Rising, snaring the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) with his only ride aboard the superstar speedster, and trainer David Hayes confirmed the Mauritian will replace Purton for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
Purton is joined by Angus Chung Yik-lai, Keith Yeung Ming-lun and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu on the injury list after an incident-marred day at Sha Tin, with more information on that trio’s condition expected later on Monday.
Ho may have suffered fractures to his neck and shoulder region when falling from Oldtown race six, while Chung has bruising to his face and upper body after coming off Legend St Paul’s and Yeung is nursing a bruised upper thigh after his mount, Lupo Solitario, was also caught up in the race nine carnage.
