Columbus County struck a blow for Zac Purton and this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby crop with a victory full of promise in the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Wednesday.

Michael Chang is hoping his stable’s current highest-flyer Righteous Doctrine will continue his ascent up the ratings when he contests Wednesday’s Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.  

Zac Purton boosted his championship claims on Wednesday night with a fantastic four-timer at Happy Valley and this Saturday at Sha Tin he is aiming to draw further clear of great rival Joao Moreira with a full book of 10 rides. 

The Champion Awards Judging Panel has elected the final nominees for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards 2019/2020 as follows:

Zac Purton struck a four-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday (24 June) that left his great rival Joao Moreira with a mountainous task in the title race and lifted Francis Lui right back into champion trainer reckoning.

There are seven meetings left in the 2019/20 Hong Kong racing season and while the talk of the town has been the champion jockey race between Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, it’s the man dubbed the ‘Mauritian Magician’ who has stolen the spotlight of late with seven wins from the last two race meetings. 

Zac Purton extended his lead in the jockeys’ premiership at Sha Tin on Sunday to four wins thanks to a double. The Australian has 132 on the board to Moreira’s 128 after the latter’s single win.

Jolly Banner (114lb) showed plenty of vim for a veteran as he battled past younger rivals to win the G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Vincent Ho bagged his first Group 1 victory aboard Southern Legend in the FWD Champions Mile and on Sunday at Sha Tin they pair up again in search of more Pattern-race success when they tackle the HK$3.25 million G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m). 

Hong Kong racing will offer record prize money of HK$1.4 billion for the 2020/21 season, with the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint and BMW Hong Kong Derby featuring prominently among the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s upward adjustments revealed on Tuesday.