Zac Purton ended Douglas Whyte’s 13-season dominance by winning his first Hong Kong Jockeys’ Championship in 2013/14 with 112 wins, and when claiming his second title in 2017/18, he halted Joao Moreira’s title streak at three. During his first championship season, the Australian ace raced to what was then the fastest 50 wins in Hong Kong history and became the second rider, after Whyte, to reach 100 wins in a season. Purton lost his title when he finished second to Moreira in 2014/15 with 95 wins, a position he occupied for the next two seasons, including when recording his second century of wins in 2016/17. His second championship was a remarkable effort, as he chased down Moreira to take the lead for the first time that season on 10 June, 2018. Five weeks later, at the season’s conclusion, he had outpointed Moreira 136-134. The Australian ace won a third consecutive championship in 2019/20, with 147 wins and three Group 1 victories. His triumph aboard Exultant in the 2020 QEII Cup made him the only rider in history to have won every Group 1 race on the Hong Kong calendar. Purton’s championship-winning streak was halted at three in 2020/21, but he reclaimed the title in 2021/22. He claimed his fifth title after another enthralling battle with Moreira, finishing with 136 wins, including his third Stewards’ Cup triumph aboard the John Size-trained Waikuku. He also sealed a third International Jockeys’ Championship title. Purton closed out a highly successful 2025/26 season with his ninth Hong Kong Champion Jockey crown. During that season, he also reached 2,000 career wins in Hong Kong. In addition, Purton continued his successful partnership with Ka Ying Rising, achieving five Group 1 successes in that season, including the landmark win in The Everest, as Ka Ying Rising subsequently extended his winning streak to 20. Purton began his career in Brisbane and was an apprentice sensation, winning the championship there in 2003. He then moved to Sydney where he finished runner-up in the championship twice. Purton relocated to Hong Kong in September 2007. He also boasts a famous Royal Ascot victory for Hong Kong, riding the Danny Shum-trained Little Bridge to success in the 2012 King’s Stand Stakes. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2025. Achievements: Hong Kong Champion Jockey (2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 & 2025/26); Brisbane Champion Jockey (2003 – when still an apprentice); International Jockeys’ Championship winner (2017, 2020 & 2021); World Super Jockeys Series (Japan) winner (2012); Hong Kong single season prize money record (HK$277,712,060 in 2022/23); Hong Kong record for most wins in a season (179 in 2022/23); Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee (2025). Notable Wins Include: The Everest (2025 Ka Ying Rising), Hong Kong Derby (2015 Luger, 2024 Massive Sovereign), Hong Kong Cup (2017 Time Warp, 2020 Normcore), Hong Kong Mile (2012 Ambitious Dragon, 2016 Beauty Only, 2018 Beauty Generation, 2022 California Spangle), Hong Kong Sprint (2014 & 2016 Aerovelocity, 2023 Lucky Sweynesse, 2024 & 2025 Ka Ying Rising), Hong Kong Vase (2013 Dominant, 2018 Exultant), QEII Cup (2020 Exultant), Champions Mile (2018 & 2019 Beauty Generation, 2024 Beauty Eternal), Champions & Chater Cup (2019 & 2020 Exultant), Chairman’s Sprint Prize (2018 Ivictory, 2023 Lucky Sweynesse, 2025 & 2026 Ka Ying Rising), Stewards’ Cup (2010 Fellowship, 2019 Beauty Generation, 2022 Waikuku), Hong Kong Gold Cup (2013 Military Attack, 2018 Time Warp, 2019 Exultant), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (2013 Ambitious Dragon, 2018, 2019 & 2020 Beauty Generation, 2026 Ka Ying Rising), Centenary Sprint Cup (2016 Aerovelocity, 2023 Lucky Sweynesse, 2025 & 2026 Ka Ying Rising), King’s Stand Stakes (2012 Little Bridge), Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2015 Aerovelocity), KrisFlyer International Sprint (2015 Aerovelocity), Singapore Airlines International Cup (2013 Military Attack), SIN G1 Kranji Mile (2018 & 2019 Southern Legend), Caulfield Cup (2014 Admire Rakti), Doncaster Mile (2014 Sacred Falls, 2017 It’s Somewhat, 2023 Mr Brightside). Hong Kong Career Wins (at start of 2026/27 season): 2,021 (win strike rate 17.8%).
