Purton in pursuit of Moreira's record as Size and Moore battle it out for title

With just two meetings of the Hong Kong season left, Wednesday's nine-race card at Happy Valley could prove pivotal for two reasons.

Zac Purton is closing in fast on Joao Moreira's Hong Kong record of 170 winners in a season. With just 20 races left in the season, he needs six winners to tie and seven to break a record many thought would stand for decades.

That sounds a tall ask, but if anyone can do it, it's Purton. With ten winners from his last 17 rides, he is in the sort of form that makes it possible.

Zac attack: Purton closing in on Joao Moreira's Hong Kong record

Meanwhile, seven-time champion trainer John Moore trails ten-time title winner John Size by one. With the former being forced to retire at the end of next season due to age, another championship would send the ultimate message.

“I’m really confident. I’m there with all guns firing,” said Moore on Tuesday. He sends five into battle at Happy Valley, one less than Size, but is in better form with a winner at each of the last two meetings while the reigning champion has saddled just one winner across the last five.

“I’ve got five runners on Wednesday night and all of them can win, as far as I’m concerned. They’ve all performed admirably in their previous starts.”

Moore also has the assistance of Purton on two of those runners, Touch Of Luck (1.15) and Tashidelek (3.15). “Touch Of Luck will be a force to reckon with,” Moore said. “I think he’s a versatile type – we’ve had him on the turf here and the dirt.

“I feel that the little bit of cushion at Happy Valley will suit him down to the ground. He’s drawn awkwardly in nine on the A track but with Zac on board, who could ask for more?”

Happy Valley contenders

He also pinpointed Sunny Boy, in the 3.50, as his most likely winner. “I bought him as a Class 1 horse to compete at Group level,” Moore said, “but being the big boy he is, we had setbacks in front and behind. It took painstaking time to right the ship but now he’s right. I think he’ll be very hard to beat.”

Size, who still carries a lead into the final two meetings, was more philosophical. He said: “It depends who has the luck to win the races. I don’t think you can define it any other way.

“I think I’ve done the same thing day in, day out since the first day I arrived here. If I win enough races I win the championship. Sometimes other trainers do much better than me and I’ve just got to cop it.”

Size's True Grit goes in search of a five-timer, something notoriously difficult to pull off in Hong Kong, and his trainer said: “True Grit is trying to win five in a row and I’ve always found that tough. The horse is fine, his condition seems fine, it’s just that when you aim for five in a row you can’t expect too much.

"I just hope he runs well and if he has any luck he might win, if not, he won’t.”

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