In a season finale soaked with drama and history, Zac Purton, Frankie Lor and Matthew Chadwick have taken the top individual honours as the 2021/2022 Hong Kong racing season ended in spectacular fashion at Sha Tin on Saturday.

HK Direct, the informative weekly preview show with Andrew Le Jeune in his final HK Direct show, ahead of the final race meeting of the season at Sha Tin, hear from a number of key participants as they look back on their personal highlights from the 2021/22 campaign. 

The curtain will close on Paul O'Sullivan's 18-year odyssey in Hong Kong at the conclusion of Saturday's (16 July) season finale fixture at Sha Tin but the affable New Zealander won't be lost to racing as he prepares for a return to where it all began.

Steadily bridging the gap to Joao Moreira in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with a four-timer, Zac Purton was stunned by Beauty Joy’s incredible G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday after the talented gelding conceded rivals a huge start before winning emphatically. 

Tourbillon Diamond (132lb) and Alexis Badel continued a rewarding partnership at Sha Tin on Sunday with the duo nailing a stubborn win for trainer Danny Shum in the HK$3.7 million G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m). 

Caspar Fownes is looking for a fourth consecutive win in Sunday’s HK$3.7 million Gr.3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) when Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood) takes his place in the traditional end-of-season showdown for middle-distance gallopers at Sha Tin.

Trainer Peter Ho was not surprised when Dashing Triumph (NZ) (El Roca) defied market expectations to win the Tung Wan Shan Plate (1000m) for Griffins at Sha Tin on Sunday under Dylan Mo despite the El Roca gelding starting at 27-1 on the basis of a modest trial last month.

Soulmate (NZ) (Nicconi) capped a season crammed with improvement and success with dramatic victory in the Class 2 Bellflower Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night to justify Ricky Yiu’s faith in the talented former Kiwi galloper.

Kiwi-bred galloper Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) completed his latest rise in grade with aplomb, winning the Class 2 Beas River Handicap (1400m) for Manfred Man and Matthew Poon to pocket a High Achievement Bonus of HK$1 million in addition to the HK$1.368 million winners’ purse for his connections.

Tony Cruz is confident Beauty Joy can continue a prodigious rise after the emerging talent propelled Zac Purton to a confidence-boosting treble with HK$3.7 million G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) victory at Sha Tin on Sunday.