HK star Zac keen for more rides in Australia

Ending the reign of Douglas Whyte is top of the list for Zac Purton but the Hong Kong-based Australian rider is also keen for more opportunities back home, says Racing Network. Having not ridden in Sydney since booting home Theseo in the 2008 Epsom Handicap, Purton would love an opportunity to be apart of the action in either the autumn or spring carnival.

"I'm getting asked to ride all over the world but I can't get a ride in my own backyard," he said. "I would love to come back to Sydney, especially with the new look autumn carnival and the excitment that is involved with The Championships, if there was an opportunity to get on the right horse I'd definitely come back but for some reason I can't get on any.

"I would say I am a much better rider now than I was when I left, I am a different rider now and hopefully an opportunities come up to ride more in Australia."

Purton pushed his lead in the hotly contested premiership to 22 wins over Whyte and Olivier Doleuze courtesy of a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

While it seems a healthy buffer, Purton is not prepared to take the foot off the throttle and is keen to extend his lead at Sunday's International program.

"It is not enough, it is a long season and Douglas Whyte has been a 13-time winner for a reason, he is a very good jockey and I know he will come at me," Purton said.

"I'm very happy with my current situation, things are going well, I'm getting a lot of nice rides for a variety of trainers."

Purton is riding Military Attack for John Moore in the prestigious Hong Kong Cup and the confident jockey believes the multiple Group 1 winner can avenge his last start defeat at the hands of Endowing and Akeed Mofeed.

“Naturally he’s going to strip fitter for that second up run when he conceded weight and didn’t have the best trip," Purton said.

"He’s worked extremely well since and he’s going to be hard to beat. If I had any reservation it’s that he took until the end of the season to really peak last time around and maybe this race is coming a bit quick but I’m happy to be on him.”