Purton set to continue domination with strong book of rides at Sha Tin

Garlic Yeah
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts winGuy Dragon
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts winBeauty Spark
10.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

The Zac Purton juggernaut rolls on to Sha Tin with every indication that the champion jockey can go close to maintaining his remarkable 48 per cent strike-rate registered at the last six meetings.

Purton also looks certain to chalk up his 1,000th Hong Kong winner, probably on the first of his seven rides, the John Moore-trained Thanks Forever, who looks a good thing in the 5f Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap (7.00) but is likely to be very short.

By far the most interesting of Purton's mounts at bigger prices is Beauty Spark, who makes his local debut in the closing Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap (10.45).

Trainer Frankie Lor has put a lot of work into the gelded son of All American, who was two from two in Melbourne prior to export.

Lor has given Beauty Spark four barrier trials – won two and was second in another – and Purton was aboard for a sharp half-mile gallop on the Sha Tin turf ten days ago. The three-year-old is ready to go.

It is a strong race nevertheless and the unbeaten Golden Sixty is not to be underestimated, particularly as he has been given a chance for the hat-trick by the handicapper, while Ping Hai Galaxy, another newcomer, also has claims.

Purton teams up with Dennis C H Yip and capable stayer Garlic Yeah for a crack at the HK Riding For The Disabled Association Cup (8.35) and the gelding's effectiveness at the trip is a major positive.

All four of his wins have been over 1m1f or longer and Purton was aboard for two of those wins.

Chad Schofield is one of the few other jockeys getting a look in during the current hot spell of Purton and Moreira and he is set to make the most of his valuable link with the Chris So-trained Guy Dragon in the Lung Mun Road Handicap (9.05).

Guy Dragon is still a work in progress and a little immature according to his trainer, but the raw talent he displayed in beating subsequent winner Band Of Brothers last time means he is one you should not oppose.

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