Jockey Club officials abandoned the final three races at Happy Valley on Wednesday night after it was announced the No 8 typhoon signal would be issued.

With Tropical Storm Toraji edging closer to Hong Kong, the No 8 signal was hoisted at 11.10pm – just 20 minutes after the final event on Happy Valley’s nine-race card was scheduled to be run.

“Consistent with our ongoing commitment to the safety of our patrons both here and in the off-course betting shops and our staff, we won’t proceed with races seven, eight and nine on the card,” Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding said.

“Safety’s always paramount and this is a principle we have always endeared to.”

With just six races run before the abandonment, Zac Purton struck with a double but was left wondering what could have been after close placings on Ma Comet and debutant Masterofmyuniverse.

“I feel a bit stiff not to have four winners, but two is good – it keeps the ball rolling,” Purton said after moving to 37 victories for the season.

Purton’s first win on Lucky Touch was a desperately-needed breakthrough for Jamie Richards, delivering the handler his second triumph of the term.

The champion jockey produced a sublime ride from barrier seven to lift the $2.8 favourite to victory in the second section of the Class Four Lung Cheung Handicap (1,650m).

Firing Lucky Touch forward to land in the box seat, Purton capitalised on an inside run to snatch the lead at the 200m. The Sweynesse four-year-old drew clear to account for Firefoot by a length and a quarter in his first success at start eight.

“It’s been a bit of a slow start for the stable, the horses have been running well without winning but the team is working hard and hopefully we can go on with it from here,” Richards said after ending a run of 47 runners without a victory.

“Zac gave [Lucky Touch] a beautiful ride and he was able to get across and get into a nice position. He’s a horse that hasn’t had a lot of luck through his career so far, but hopefully he can get a bit of confidence from tonight and keep going on. I’m hopeful the horse can keep improving.”

Purton’s second success was identical to his first as he took advantage of an inside run on Circuit Duffy to win what would be the final race on Wednesday night, the first section of the Class Four Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1,200m).

Jumping from the inside gate, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s promising youngster also settled on the leader’s back and sprinted powerfully in the straight to beat the fast-finishing Top Time by a shorthead.

After impressing in several trials, Circuit Duffy was sent off a $2.9 favourite on debut last month but had excuses when sixth behind Team Happy.

“Last start he jumped a bit slow and also in the straight, he was stuck on the inside,” Lor said.

“This time he drew a lot better and I asked Zac to get him to jump better. He was still a little bit green and when he hit the front, he was looking around and waiting for another horse.

“I think he will stay at Happy Valley and in Class Four for now.”

Elsewhere, Luke Ferraris continued his top form when booting home the Mark Newnham-trained Street Conqueror in the third section of the Lei Yue Mun Handicap.

“The season is ticking over nicely, going at a nice, high strike rate and I’m just trying to keep that going,” Ferraris said after recording his 10th win of the season.

Street Conqueror was on stable debut for Newnham after one win from 13 starts for Tony Cruz and Danny Shum Chap-shing.

“He’s worked well since he’s been with us and he did have an operation on his foot before coming to us, so it was quite a recuperation time with him,” Newnham said.

“That’s his first start in six months and he’s a good horse fresh judging by his record last season.”