Zac Purton snares four-timer to slash winless Joao Moreira’s jockeys’ championship lead

Zac Purton added more spice to the race for the jockeys’ championship with a four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday, teaming up with Caspar Fownes for a treble that included wins by two very promising types.

Purton’s haul brings him within four of Joao Moreira, who went winless, and leaves the Australian in a strong position with his main rival set to miss the meetings on June 6 and 10 through suspension.

“It puts me in a good position now and we’ll just see what happens. It’s funny, I’ve had four winners and I feel like I’ve had an ordinary day,” said Purton, whose haul could have been even bigger after he missed out on favourites Absolucool, Goodluck Goodluck and Handsome Bo Bo.

“It’s hard to explain. Obviously things started well, went sideways midway through the day and it was good to finish it off with another winner.”

Purton and Fownes were on the board early when Play It saluted in the first and combined again with Montreal in race five and Rise High in the last race, with the latter most exciting Fownes.

“He’s a nice horse, bigger and better things for this horse down the road. He’s going to be a pretty smart horse for next season,” Fownes said.