Punt Drunk: Purton wins International Jockeys’ Championship
Ahhh Friday, how you doin’? Today marks two weeks until Christmas, and there’s plenty of winners to be found in the lead up.
This week we’ve seen punch ons in the crowd, some dodgy photo angles, and a 100/1 shot finishing the race in first only for the race to be abandoned due to a dodgy start. We’ve had best bets salute at a nice price and a couple of seconds just to leave us that little bit frustrated.
But fear not, there are 10 – yes, you read that right – local gallops meetings for us to sink our teeth into today. Anyway, here’s what you may have missed since we last spoke.
#BackPurtonLiverHurtin
Hong Kong's champion jockey @zpurton takes the opener at Happy Valley on @LONGINES #IJC night as Run The Table breaks through! ? #HKIR #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ctxjXn2v7j
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 9, 2020
In a year full of uncertainty, it’s good to know we can still rely on superstar jockey Zac Purton. The Australian claimed his second International Jockeys’ Championship on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, edging out Joao Moreira by two points. He also claimed his 1,200th winner in Hong Kong, and it makes you think how good it would be to see the star hoop back down under for a sustained stint.
Classique Legend draws barrier one for Hong Kong Sprint
“I was really hoping for gate five, to tell you the truth."
Can Classique Legend defy history?https://t.co/vjVReVRATK— Racing.com (@Racing) December 10, 2020
The Everest winner Classique Legend has drawn barrier one for the 2020 Hong Kong Sprint at the upcoming HK International Races meeting. He is a $2 favourite for the HK Sprint over 1200m, and with Hot King Prawn (what a name by the way) standing between him and equine immortality, he’ll be keen to put on one hell of a performance in his Hong Kong debut.
Inspirational Girl on track for All Star Mile
"If I put more than one in, I could split the parochial vote from Western Australians."
Title-holder Bob Peters is fine-turning his @allstarmile strategy. https://t.co/5RmMgQLk2X
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 9, 2020
Having come off a runner-up finish in the Kingston Town Classic, Inspirational Girl will look to add another big race to her name in the autumn after taking out the Railway Stakes last month. This time, it’ll be the All Star Mile on her agenda. Owner Bob Peters said that no horse has ever won the Railway Stakes in a quicker time at Ascot, and that he wonder what she is truly capable of. She’s currently $26 in the all-in markets, and with William Pike sure to stick with Arcadia Queen, there looks to be a ripper of a ride available for any jockey who wants to hope onboard.