Reliable Team can boost champion Purton's bid for record haul

Reliable Team
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Shining Ace
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Fat Turtle
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Zac Purton has been hogging the spotlight all season and Wednesday's eight-race card at Happy Valley should prove no exception. He has seven quality rides, with the best of them coming aboard Reliable Team for Frankie Lor in the 6f sprint (1.45).

Purton, riding high on the 156-winner mark with four meetings remaining, is certain to retain his jockeys’ title. However, he looks likely to fall short of rival Joao Moreira’s record of 170 in a season.

Reliable Team ran right up to the promise he displayed in barrier trials when impressively winning his only start, making all from a wide draw. After a reasonable increase of 7lb, he can make record his second course-and-distance win.

Purton and Lor can also combine successfully with Fat Turtle in the 1m½f handicap (3.50). The consistent four-year-old has not been out of the first two in four Hong Kong starts.

This is his first attempt beyond 6f locally but he won over a mile in Australia. Purton is back in the saddle this time and must call on all his renowned skill to find a handy spot drawn 11.

Moreira has a similar challenge aboard Shining Ace in the 6f handicap (3.15), as the three-year-old is drawn in stall ten of 12.

Shining Ace is in cracking form, having won his two most recent starts, and is stepping up in class on a light weight. He can take the upgrade in his stride and give trainer John Size a useful winner in his title battle with John Moore, who is breathing down his neck.

Moore has closed strongly to be only three wins adrift at this late stage of the season. The title looks likely to go down to the wire.

Get ahead of the game with Get Your Eye In - exclusive Saturday preview content on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday