History awaits Zac Purton as soon as Sunday after the champion jockey moved to within four wins of breaking Douglas Whyte’s all-time Hong Kong record with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Purton’s relentless pursuit of Whyte’s benchmark of 1,813 wins continued when he booted home Kasa Papa in the opening race and Bottomuptogether in the night’s feature, the Class Two Jackson Handicap (1,000m).

With his rides on Sunday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin headlined by star sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m), Purton could be destined to break the record this weekend.

Bottomuptogether was the highlight of Purton’s brace, saluting on his first start at the city circuit against strong opposition.

Sent off the $1.7 favourite, the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding settled on the back of leader Youthful Spirits from barrier one and worked his way to the lead at the 50m.

The son of Shamus Award held off the fast-finishing Stellar Express by half a length, with Youthful Spirits close behind in third.

“He’s a nice horse, he always gives his best,” Purton said after Bottomuptogether improved his record to four wins from eight starts.

“It was a good win, first time at Happy Valley. There was plenty of pressure early, so he had to deal with a lot and he got it done.”

Lor paid tribute to Purton and said the superstar jockey would have a strong say in Bottomuptogether’s future targets.

“Zac rides this horse perfectly. He’s the champion, so he’s always busy. He is always the first choice,” Lor said.

After starting his career with three brilliant wins from as many starts, Bottomuptogether was on trial for the Classic Mile but Lor scrapped those plans after he ran sixth on his first try at 1,400m in November, though he was far from disgraced when not beaten far behind Green N White before pulling up with blood in his trachea.

Lor believes Bottomuptogether can elevate to feature races in the future.

“I have thought he looks like a Group horse, but he’s still not strong enough,” Lor said.

“He’s only 1,050 pounds. If he can build to maybe 1,100, he should be better. Anyway, he’s got gate speed and at this moment, 1,000m and 1,200m should be suitable for him.

“He needs to learn to relax more, but at this moment I think he is a short-distance horse.”

Elsewhere on the Valley card, Hugh Bowman took home riding honours with a treble aboard Charity Gain, Sky Jewellery and Wings Of War.

Charity Gain’s win in the Class Four Lambeth Handicap (1,800m) was the first leg of a double for David Eustace, who later won with $42.25 roughie Definitive in the Class Three Chater Handicap (1,650m).

Sky Jewellery, who made a strong impression on debut in the second section of the Class Four Club Handicap (1,200m), clinched a double for John Size after the master trainer also struck with Take Action in the Class Four Murray Handicap (1,650m).

With 22 winners this campaign including 17 since the start of December, Size jumped to fifth in the trainers’ championship and now trails leader Danny Shum Chap-shing by just five victories.

Tony Cruz was the third trainer to land a double on Wednesday night thanks to Kasa Papa and Parents’ Love, who was booted home by Angus Chung Yik-lai in the Class Four Hong Kong Club Challenge Cup (1,000m).

Pierre Ng Pang-chi and Andrea Atzeni broke lengthy winning droughts of 44 runners and 65 rides, respectively, when they teamed up with Motoman, who landed an upset win in the first section of the Club Handicap at $23.4.