Progressive gelding can strike in prep for Group 1

Champion’s Way
7.20 Sha Tin
2pts win

Everyone’s Joy
9.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Zac Purton is setting about the task of reeling in his old rival Joao Moreira in their tussle for the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship.

Moreira, back freelancing, has made a bright start and already has 34 wins, ten more than Purton, but the defending champion is serious in his determination to regain his old momentum as the International races approach.

Purton rides in nine of the ten races at Sha Tin on Saturday and, as ever, he has several leading chances, among them the Frankie Lor-trained Everyone’s Joy (9.00) in the finale, a Class 3 7f handicap.

This is an evenly matched field, but Lor has done a great job in nurturing this Australian son of Redoute’s Choice, who landed two wins and a second from three starts last season. His first outing this season was a nice reintroduction, and with Purton back in the saddle, he will be hard to beat.

The feature race, the Class 1 Panasonic Cup, over 7f, marks the seasonal debut of Champion’s Way (7.20), who was one of the discoveries of last season. Trained by John Size, he won six of his seven races, working his way from Class 4 to Group company.

This is the time of year at which the Size stable starts making a serious impression, and this will be a nice prep for the big Internationals next month for Champion’s Way, who will be partnered by Moreira.

His class should carry him to victory, even if the trainer has left something to work on with the big targets in mind.

Get free tipping content with The Punt from 7.30am daily on the Racing Post mobile app and 8.30am on the website