By Alan Carasso
HONG KONG — Not even Zac Purton wanted to back Zac Purton in Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship, staged under a moonlit sky at the city circuit at Happy Valley Racecourse.
With a middling book of rides on tap for the four-race contest, Purton (24 points) publicly downplayed his chances, but he put together beautiful rides on a pair of mid-priced horses and went on to defeat two-time British champion Silvestre de Sousa (18) and French champion Pierre-Charles Boudot (16) to win the HK$500,000 first prize.
“I came into tonight thinking that I had quite ordinary rides, but it turned out well, and I'm pleased to have won, as I've gone close a couple of times (second in 2012 and 2013),” Purton said. “I didn't want it to be another deja vu. You need a lot of luck, and I got it in two races!”
Purton struck in the very first leg of the series atop Our Hero (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), an 8-1 chance with just one prior victory from 19 runs in Hong Kong to his credit. Midfield for the opening 6 1/2 furlongs, Our Hero was peeled out widest and outfought the de Sousa-ridden See Me Now (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a short head (video).
De Sousa struck right back in race five with Peace Combination (NZ) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), who had but one local success from 35 starts to his credt. Drawn one, like See Me Now, Peace Combination held a spot at the rails while outsprinted by a rival before working his way to the front prior to the turn. Firmly in front turning for home, the well-backed 31-10 favourite tired late but had a length to spare over defending IJC champ Hugh Bowman and Dr Proactive (NZ) (Denman {Aus}) (video).
The personal game of leapfrog continued in the third leg of the series, as Purton produced 59-10 Let's Take It Easy (Aus) (Street Boss) in the final stages to reclaim the lead. Able to secure a good spot in sixth after hustling his mount away from gate 10, Purton sat against the 4-year-old on the turn, pushed the button in upper stretch and knifed through late to snag pacesetting Sparkling Sword (Aus) (Danzero {Aus}) and Bowman (video).
In need of a victory in the final leg, De Sousa could do no better than ninth and Purton secured the crown. Race eight went to Boudot and the progressive 3-year-old Bank On Red (Hat Trick {Jpn}) who looked every bit a winner just behind the speed, got through in upper stretch and kicked on for the victory (video).
American-based Flavien Prat whooshed home to claim second spot in the finale, while Ryan Moore, Japan's Keita Tosaki and Brazilian sensation Leandro Henrique each posted a single third-place finish.
The leading rider in Hong Kong in 2013/2014, Purton has also won the World Super Jockeys Series in Japan and has five wins at the Hong Kong International Races, including two in 2016.
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