He’ll ride as light as he has in almost four years in Tuesday’s Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m), but Zac Purton is more looking forward to a good feed than focusing on any flow-on benefits his weight-loss regime could bring.

When he jumps aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde at 53 kilograms (116.8 pounds), Purton will ride below 118 pounds for the first time since he partnered Aethero into third in the 2019 Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m).

While it’s well documented Purton’s usual minimum of around 120 pounds puts him at a disadvantage against lighter-weight jockeys, he has no desire to try and cash in on his recent efforts once back in Hong Kong following Tuesday’s feature.

“I’m looking forward to a feed after it. It’ll be easy to put the weight back on. I think I’ll be back to my normal weight pretty quickly,” Purton said, admitting he hasn’t been adopting any special weight-loss methods in recent weeks.

“You’ve just got to starve – I’m very bloody hungry. You’ve just got to keep busy, stay on top of it and no slip-ups. It’s been all right. I dehydrate and seem to be lighter when I fly, so flying back and forwards has actually helped me as well.”

Purton, who has launched failed hit-and-run missions on The Everest (1,200m) and the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) already this Australian spring, is hopeful it’s third time lucky at Flemington on Tuesday.

The Melbourne Cup is one of the more glaring omissions from Purton’s glittering CV, and in Absurde, he’s got a mount he knows will stay the distance.

While stablemate Vauban is the long-time favourite of the race, punters have come for Absurde in recent days.

“I think they’re different types of horses. Vauban seems to be very much an on-speed runner. He seems to be a very relaxed horse, and he seems to do everything right,” said Purton, whose lightest ride at Happy Valley on Wednesday night is 122 pounds.

“My guy can over-race and do a fair bit wrong. It makes it a little bit difficult. They’re both in really good form. I’ve been watching their videos, and they’re both working very well. Everyone has been commenting on that.

“Vauban is probably a little bit more brilliant than my horse. My horse, the further they go, the better he probably is. The tempo of the race is going to be crucial for my horse’s chances. He needs to switch off a little bit, and he’s going to be strong to the line,” added Purton, who piloted Max Dynamite into third for Mullins in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

“The bloke’s a genius. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s trained big-race winners, and he knows what it takes to get the horse to peak at the right time in the right race. He’s had this race set for these two horses for quite some time, so there’s no better man than him. It gives me a lot of confidence riding for a bloke like Willie.”

Only five entered for Jockey Club Mile

With Golden Sixty not resuming until December’s Group One Hong Kong Mile, California Spangle will face just four rivals in the Group Two Jockey Club Mile on November 19.

Beauty Eternal will have another crack at the reigning Hong Kong Mile champ, while Hong Kong Derby hero Voyage Bubble, recent Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) victor Healthy Happy and Beauty Joy round out the field.

Danny Shum Chap-shing has entered Romantic Warrior for the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) despite the trainer saying the Cox Plate hero won’t be seen until international day, while Russian Emperor and Straight Arron are also among the 10 nominations.

Leung pockets first Group win in two years as Encountered bags Ladies’ Purse

Notably absent from the entries is Manfred Man Ka-leung’s Encountered, who prevailed in Sunday’s Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) at Sha Tin.

Wellington, who trials at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning, will have his first run of the season in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m), while Lucky Sweynesse will look to bounce back in a race that also features Sight Success and Victor The Winner.

Adding some welcome variety to the 10 Sprint entries is Macau speedster Famous Jonathn, with Nicholas Moore’s galloper also nominated for December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m).