Aussie jockey Zac Purton grabbed a rare opportunity for the John Moore stable to claim his first Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin and break the trainer's Grp One drought for the season with Military Attack. Purton took the initiative to put Military Attack close in the slowly run affair when the gelding began brilliantly, which proved the difference as he sprinted clear to win by a space and perhaps put himself on the plane to the Dubai World Cup meeting. "He's entered for the Dubai World Cup
Aussie jockey Zac Purton grabbed a rare opportunity for the John Moore stable to claim his first Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin and break the trainer's Grp One drought for the season with Military Attack. Purton took the initiative to put Military Attack close in the slowly run affair when the gelding began brilliantly, which proved the difference as he sprinted clear to win by a space and perhaps put himself on the plane to the Dubai World Cup meeting. "He's entered for the Dubai World Cup and for the Duty Free so we've got two chances to get an invitation," says Moore. "I think the owner is keen to run in Dubai, so we'll wait and see what happens. I'd probably prefer the Duty Free with him but, as I say, we'll see if he gets an invitation. Zac can go and ride him. And we've seen today that the horse can be ridden differently."
Close battle...Zac Purton and Sth African ace Douglas Whyte are slugging it out for top honors in the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership. Purton is currently one win ahead. He has ridden 49 winners from 289 rides while Whyte has 48 winners from 287 rides.