Superstar jockey Zac Purton set an amazing new record overnight, becoming the first rider to reach 1900 wins in Hong Kong.
Fresh off his mighty victory on Ka Ying Rising in The Everest, the Aussie champion powered home Talents Supremo in the Class Five Success Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley, to pass the previous Hong Kong record set by Douglas Whyte last season.
“Win number 1900 for the incredible Zac Purton! The greatest Hong Kong has ever seen 🍾 … Our legend,” the Hong Kong Jockey Club said on social media.
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While World Horse Racing said: “1900 Hong Kong wins and counting for the one and only. Zac Purton! All-time great. No debate. 👏.”
“The King of Hong Kong! Many congratulations to Zac Purton bringing up the 1900 Hong Kong winners,” trumpeted social media account Caroline from Windfall Stables.
Purton naturally rejoiced in the celebrations, using his own social media account to share the fanfare.
It was the perfect response to a staggering attack from Maureen Haggas, the wife of UK trainer William Haggas and the daughter of the racing icon Lester Piggott.
Maureen was furious with Purton, who (also on Everest Day) rode her husband’s horse Lake Forest in the King Charles III stakes.
Lake Forest was a $4.60 chance in the $5 million Group 1 race, but finished last.
Maureen Haggas has launched a scathing assessment of Zac Purton’s ride on Lake Forest in the King Charles III Stakes. Credit: Racing TV
And while Purton was busy winning in Hong Kong, Maureen was still raging in the UK.
“As far as I’m concerned, Lake Forest never had a race,” she told RacingTV overnight.
“It was about the worst ride I think I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I was appalled, absolutely appalled.
“We went all that way and, I mean I don’t know Zac Purton at all, but it was just dreadful. It was so disappointing because everyone knows he is a horse that you have to tell what to do.
“He knew that, and he was told it, and he just sat there like a big sissy.
“I was horrified, I really was.
“We’ve gone all that way at huge expense on the owners part and it just makes you realise how lucky we are with the jockeys we have in England, Ireland and France when you compare them to the rides we got on Saturday which were, as I say, really shockingly awful.”
Lake Forest raced in the Golden Eagle last year and won the $10 million race with British jockey Cieren Fallon on his back.
Upon hearing the criticism, Purton later fired back.
“She must have been on the drink, she must have had a bad day at the races,” he said on SEN.
“I didn’t speak to her after the race, her and Willie weren’t down there. Obviously they watched it from up there and she’s got her opinion which she’s entitled to.
“But I thank her for her advice. I haven’t had time to watch the replay yet because I’ve been too busy watching replays of myself winning the $20 million Everest.
“I followed Ceolwulf (the winner) who went on to win the race, so I thought he was not too bad a horse to be following.
“He put seven lengths on me. As soon as they quickened my horse just went up and down in the one spot. He gave me no response at all.
“I’m a little bit bemused at her take on the race, but she’s entitled to that, no problem.”
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