He’s in the midst of his best month of the season and Zac Purton is eager to keep the ball rolling at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Purton’s 14 winners in January was his best return across the first six months of the season but the Australian has gone on a tear in March, kicking the month off with a five-timer before delivering three trebles on his way to 18 winners with two meetings remaining.
While Purton himself has admitted his arch-rival Joao Moriera has the title in the bag for 2020-21, the Australian has been at his pugnacious best of late and has cut the Brazilian’s margin back to 20.
“Things are starting to come together again now and hopefully we can finish strongly,” Purton said.
He’s in the midst of his best month of the season and Zac Purton is eager to keep the ball rolling at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Purton’s 14 winners in January was his best return across the first six months of the season but the Australian has gone on a tear in March, kicking the month off with a five-timer before delivering three trebles on his way to 18 winners with two meetings remaining.
While Purton himself has admitted his arch-rival Joao Moriera has the title in the bag for 2020-21, the Australian has been at his pugnacious best of late and has cut the Brazilian’s margin back to 20.
“Things are starting to come together again now and hopefully we can finish strongly,” Purton said.https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1365957840297365508&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fsport%2Fracing%2Farticle%2F3127243%2Fzac-purton-hopeful-winner-method-can-help-him-continue-purple-patch&siteScreenName=SCMPRacingPost&theme=light&widgetsVersion=e1ffbdb%3A1614796141937&width=550px
After consecutive trebles, Purton heads to Sha Tin on Sunday well positioned to continue his winning run with a book of seven rides headlined by Winner Method in the Class Three Lai Chi Chong Handicap (1,000m).
The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained three-year-old has strung together consecutive victories down the Sha Tin straight to begin his career and Purton is confident he can continue his winning run.
“He’s certainly looked good in both his starts. He’s a young horse, he’s well built and he’s got the constitution to go on with it so let’s hope he can,” Purton said.
“In his trial last week he lifted his head up a bit at the start and was slow out of the gates, which is uncharacteristic of him because he’s been really good in the gates all the way through, so we’ve just got to hope that was a one off and he gets that right on race day. If he does he’ll be a good chance again.”
“He’s in good form, he’s racing really well and when they’re in that purple patch of form it’s a good time to stay with them,” Purton said.
He’s in the midst of his best month of the season and Zac Purton is eager to keep the ball rolling at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Purton’s 14 winners in January was his best return across the first six months of the season but the Australian has gone on a tear in March, kicking the month off with a five-timer before delivering three trebles on his way to 18 winners with two meetings remaining.
While Purton himself has admitted his arch-rival Joao Moriera has the title in the bag for 2020-21, the Australian has been at his pugnacious best of late and has cut the Brazilian’s margin back to 20.
“Things are starting to come together again now and hopefully we can finish strongly,” Purton said.https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1365957840297365508&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fsport%2Fracing%2Farticle%2F3127243%2Fzac-purton-hopeful-winner-method-can-help-him-continue-purple-patch&siteScreenName=SCMPRacingPost&theme=light&widgetsVersion=e1ffbdb%3A1614796141937&width=550px
After consecutive trebles, Purton heads to Sha Tin on Sunday well positioned to continue his winning run with a book of seven rides headlined by Winner Method in the Class Three Lai Chi Chong Handicap (1,000m).
The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained three-year-old has strung together consecutive victories down the Sha Tin straight to begin his career and Purton is confident he can continue his winning run.
“He’s certainly looked good in both his starts. He’s a young horse, he’s well built and he’s got the constitution to go on with it so let’s hope he can,” Purton said.
“In his trial last week he lifted his head up a bit at the start and was slow out of the gates, which is uncharacteristic of him because he’s been really good in the gates all the way through, so we’ve just got to hope that was a one off and he gets that right on race day. If he does he’ll be a good chance again.”
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Donc Je Suis gallops at Sha Tin this week.
Purton partners the David Hayes-trained Donc Je Suis for the first time as the son of Star Witness steps up to 2,000m for the Class Four Wong Ma Tei Handicap.
“He’s obviously a horse that has always looked like he’s wanted some ground, he finally steps up to a proper trip and he’s come into form at the right time,” Purton said of the three-year-old, who ran on nicely into third over 1,800m earlier this month.
“Unfortunately he’s drawn a wide gate [11] from the tricky [2,000m] start so I’m going to have to work out how we’re going to position him but the distance certainly suits him and he’s ready to go now I think.”
Among Purton’s other rides is John Size’s Wind N Grass, who races to Sha Tin for the first time this season in the Class Two Hoi Ha Handicap (1,200m) after two wins on the trot at Happy Valley.RELATED ARTICLES
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“He’s in good form, he’s racing really well and when they’re in that purple patch of form it’s a good time to stay with them,” Purton said.
“It’s a test for him going back to Sha Tin against stronger competition. He’s up in class as well but he’s down in weight and he’s in good form so it’s the right time to try.”
Purton also jumps aboard Alloy Star, Diamond Brilliant, Angel Of My Eyes and All In Mind.