Zac Purton etched his name deeper into Hong Kong racing history with a scintillating six-win performance at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, December 26. The Australian jockey’s dominant display brought his career tally to 1,797 wins, leaving him just 16 shy of Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813 victories.

Purton’s six-timer equaled Brett Prebble’s longstanding record of six wins from 10 rides at Happy Valley, set in June 2010. Victories aboard Super Charizzard, Noisy Boy, Northern Fire Ball, View Of The World, The Azure, and Aurora Lady capped a night of clinical riding and tactical brilliance.

Focused on the Task Ahead

Despite his proximity to history, Purton remains focused on each race. “I had some good barriers, they helped horses that could take advantage of that, and they were in good form – so, a good night,” Purton said. “I’ll worry about the record when I get there. In the meantime, I’ll just concentrate on riding winners.”

His remarkable consistency has also solidified his grip on an eighth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, amassing 57 wins in the 2024/25 season. He leads Hugh Bowman (26) and Vincent Ho (21) with 32 of 88 scheduled meetings completed.

Key Performances of the Night

Purton showcased his versatility with wins across multiple classes and distances:

Super Charizzard: Secured the Class 5 Mercury Handicap (1200m) for trainer Mark Newnham.

Noisy Boy: Claimed the Class 3 Mars Handicap (2200m), earning HK$1.5 million in PP Bonus and HK$1.148 million in prize money. Trainer Dennis Yip confirmed plans to target the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Northern Fire Ball and View Of The World: Both scored in divisions of the Class 4 Jupiter Handicap (1200m), also for Yip.

The Azure: Captured the third section of the Class 4 Saturn Handicap (1650m) for Frankie Lor.

Aurora Lady: Concluded the six-timer with a win in the Class 3 Uranus Handicap (1200m) for Pierre Ng.

Trainer Dennis Yip, who last achieved a treble in December 2018, expressed satisfaction with the results. “I’m very happy. It’s been a good night,” Yip said.

Supporting Highlights

Douglas Whyte broke a frustrating spell as King Eccellente, under Harry Bentley, stormed home to win the Class 4 Venus Handicap (1000m). Whyte praised the horse’s resilience, saying, “He’s been a victim of circumstances, but the race played his way tonight.”

Other notable performances included:

To Infinity, trained by Jamie Richards, securing a fifth course-and-distance victory in the Class 4 Saturn Handicap (1650m) under Alexis Badel.

Embraces and Romantic Laos, both trained by Cody Mo and ridden by Jerry Chau, delivered wins in the Class 4 Saturn Handicap (1650m) and Class 3 Neptune Handicap (1650m), respectively.

On the Brink of History

With 16 wins needed to surpass Whyte, Purton’s relentless pursuit of the record underscores his dominance in Hong Kong racing. His Happy Valley masterclass not only highlights his tactical acumen but also cements his reputation as one of the sport’s greats. As he continues to "chip away" at the milestone, the racing world watches eagerly.