Nicole Purton, the eldest daughter of a Kiwi jockey who rode 104 Group One winners and the wife of Hong Kong’s reigning king of the weighing room, has been an HRH – her racing highness – all of her life.

In this week’s Tongue Tie Off, Purton reveals why she did not follow her father and uncles into the family business of race riding, the Hong Kong season she thinks would have made for a compelling fly-on-the-wall documentary series and the only person who gets away with critiquing her husband’s rides.

What was it like growing up as a daughter of two-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jimmy Cassidy, whose brothers Ricky and Larry, under whom Winx began her 33-race unbeaten sequence with victory in the 2015 Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas (1,600m), also rode competitively?

With Dad being a jockey, I thought everybody in life was surrounded by horses. I didn’t realise it was a job. I’d go to my friends’ houses and wonder why they had no horse paraphernalia on display. I used to think that was weird, but I’d never known any different. It was normal for us to have our hair done and go to the races wearing beautiful dresses that most girls would wear to weddings. It was normal for us not to have huge Christmas lunches because Dad would ride in races on Boxing Day. I think that’s helped Zac and me in our relationship because, in my opinion, being a jockey isn’t a job. It’s a lifestyle. It also helps that I like routine.

Why didn’t you become a jockey?

At one stage, I did say to Dad, ‘I don’t want to go to school any more. I just want to ride’, but it was a very short-lived phase. He told me not to be so ridiculous, and he was right. I think my personality wouldn’t have suited the industry. I feel like I wouldn’t have been patient enough. I would’ve been too outspoken. Also, while I’m brave enough to get on a horse – I still ride – I’m not as ballsy as I thought I was. I wouldn’t have had that gung-ho, risk-free mindset that all good jockeys have.

What are your equestrian activities in Hong Kong?

I’ve ridden for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved the animal. When I was about eight or nine, I got into hacking. It’s like showing. Anyway, that got a little bit too intense with the competitiveness, so my parents decided it wasn’t for me. Now, I have a horse whom I adore at Beas River. Dennis Yip Chor-hong trained him for three seasons, but luckily for me, he wasn’t fast – 11 starts for no cheques, and he retired with a rating of 15. We’re blessed to have Beas River. It’s home to some great coaches, and its facilities are incredible.

What’s the name of your horse?

His racing name was So Generous, but my name for him is Conor because he’s a bit like Conor McGregor. I love his attitude. He can be quiet but also leap in the air and turn in the other direction in the blink of an eye. He’s so good on his feet.

Conor is one of my favourite Hong Kong horses. Zac’s first Hong Kong winner, Elfhelm, will always be special to me. Royal Ascot winner Little Bridge was the catalyst for Zac’s future Hong Kong success. Zac was doing well, but Little Bridge put his name up in lights. I still get emotional talking about Aerovelocity, particularly his 2016 Hong Kong Sprint success. I was heavily pregnant with Cash at the time. When he came through the field and hit the lead, I was standing in my lucky spot. Dad was next to me, but he wasn’t watching the race. Dad was watching me because I was yelling at both Zac and Aerovelocity, and he was terrified I was going to give birth on the spot. Zac and I love Aerovelocity every bit as much as his owner, Daniel Yeung Ngai, and his trainer, Paul O’Sullivan, love him. Then, obviously, there’s Beauty Generation. My kids, Roxy and Cash, still say they miss Beauty Generation.

What have been your worst and best days at the races?

My worst day was the international meeting of 2021 when four jockeys, including Zac, fell at the midpoint of the Hong Kong Sprint. For 15 minutes, I had no idea what was going on. I don’t know how to put into words how that felt.

I don’t think people realise what the 2021-22 Hong Kong premiership – the one that went to the final day – meant to Zac and me, but especially to Zac. There was so much drama behind the scenes – the Covid lockdowns and restrictions, the injuries and so on – I wished Netflix had been on hand to capture it. I remember Zac came out of the jockeys’ room after he’d finished second in the fourth race on closing day. He looked at me. Both of us had looks on our faces that we hadn’t put up with what we’d put up with for him not to win the title. Then Zac rode one winner, which became two, then three, then four. That night, Zac and I went to the airport. Joao Moreira was there as well. The terminal was empty as we walked to our gates. Zac and Joao walked a few paces behind me, talking to each other. I recall thinking I wish I could take a photo of this, but I felt it would’ve been inappropriate because of what these two warriors had gone through. However, it would’ve been a great final frame for a documentary.

American photographer’s special connection to Hong Kong’s champion horse

Finally, are your children interested in becoming jockeys?

Roxy has no interest, but Cash says he does. I’m trying to deter him. If he wanted to do it, I guess there’d be nothing I could do to stop him, but I’ll be doing my best to put other ideas in his head, and so will Zac. In my opinion, it’s too dangerous. I don’t want to watch my baby out there. It’s hard enough for me to watch Zac. I don’t need that level of stress. Then there’d be the additional pressure that’d come with him being Zac’s son and Jimmy’s grandson. I’d prefer him to become a trainer. He’s good at giving direct feedback to jockeys. Ask Zac. He tells Zac to go straight to bed whenever he gets home from a meeting without riding a winner. He’s the only person that can give it out to Zac. I don’t advise anyone else telling Zac he’s had a rubbish night.