Hong Kong Superstar Purton to Ride Artorius in Australia
Updated: February 20, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Top Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton will return to ride in his native Australia for the first time since the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup, Australia's News Corp. reported.
The 40-year-old reinsman will pilot Group 1 winner Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) in the G1 Canterbury S., the 2-year-old King's Gambit (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) in the G2 Todman S. and possibly Communist (Aus) (Russian Revolution {Aus}) in the G1 Randwick Guineas, all at Royal Randwick on Mar. 4.
“I am coming back to ride Artorius in the Canterbury Stakes and some other very good horses,” Purton told News Corp. “It works out well because I got suspended [Sunday] in Hong Kong and I start my suspension after I ride in Sydney, so maybe I can spend a bit of extra time there [in Australia.
Purton has won Group 1 races in five countries since he started riding in 2007.