November is always an important month in Hong Kong racing and this year was no exception, with the city’s two best gallopers Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising making big statements ahead of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR).

The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride.

Who’s hot?

Zac Purton continued his winning ways, matching his October haul with 16 wins at an incredible strike rate of 23.18 per cent for the month.

Hugh Bowman and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu were the big movers in the championship standings after booting home seven winners apiece.

Bowman, who was close to having a bigger month after also riding 12 seconds, jumped from fourth to second while Ho made the leap from 10th to fourth.

While James McDonald might have had a quiet start to his winter stint, the superstar jockey still managed six wins from 41 rides at a healthy strike rate of 14.6 per cent.

There were also some big movers in the trainers’ championship, headlined by David Eustace who hit top form after a sluggish start to the season.

Anchored near the bottom of the standings with just one win heading into November, Eustace prepared seven winners from 50 runners at a strike rate of 14 per cent.

Danny Shum Chap-shing also had a successful month with seven winners, followed by David Hayes and Ricky Yiu Poon-fai on six. Yiu jumped from 15th to eighth in the championship.

Pierre Ng Pang-chi more than doubled his seasonal tally with five winners, while Brett Crawford maintained his impressive strike rate after preparing three winners from 26 runners.

Who’s not?

While fellow Briton Richard Kingscote finally broke through for his first success of the term, David Probert is still chasing his maiden victory in Hong Kong after another winless month.

In Probert’s defence, only two of his 25 rides were rated solid chances – Dancing Classics at $11 and Ace War at $12. However, the tough times could continue with the influx of international riders on short-term stints and for HKIR.

Angus Chung Yik-lai was another who battled in November, adding just one win to his seasonal tally from 34 rides.

From a trainers’ perspective, Jamie Richards’ good start to the campaign came to a halt, with the Kiwi the only handler to strike out in November.

Win of month

Romantic Warrior’s stint on the sidelines with a fetlock injury that required surgery had some questioning whether he could return in top form, but the champion answered with a superb first-up win in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m).

On his first start since April’s heartbreaking second in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan, the world’s highest-earning racehorse sat just behind an incredibly slow speed set by Voyage Bubble before cruising into contention on the turn.

He took control just before the 300m and wasn’t fully tested by McDonald when accounting for Voyage Bubble by a length and a half.

An unprecedented fourth straight Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) awaits Shum’s superstar on December 14.

Ride of month

There were plenty of outstanding rides to choose from, but we have to go all the way back to the first race of November to find the best.

Purton’s pearler aboard Ragnarr at Happy Valley proved the difference between victory and defeat, with the Australian champion successfully overcoming the Class Five galloper’s wide draw in barrier 10.

After drifting back at the start, Ragnarr was urged forward by Purton to lob in the perfect position midfield on the fence.

Purton made ground on the inside early in the straight before peeling Ragnarr off the leader’s heels to make his run. The David Hall-trained gelding lifted on the inside of Speedy Smartie to snatch the lead 100m out en route to a narrow triumph.

Purton’s weaving ride on Supreme Agility on the dirt and McDonald’s rails-hugging ride on Galaxy Patch were also among the better performances of the month.