Purton’s Prayers Bring Ironic Punishment

Zac Purton may be reflecting on the old adage that the gods sometimes punish us by granting our wishes. The Hong Kong jockey, a towering figure in the sport, had once encouraged newly crowned World Champion James McDonald to consider relocating to Hong Kong. While McDonald hasn’t made a permanent move, his short-term stint has proven electrifying. His recent feats, including a double Group 1 victory last Sunday, have signalled a challenge to Purton, who is inching closer to breaking Douglas Whyte's all-time record. McDonald, scheduled to return to Sydney after 22 December when his temporary contract ends, still has significant opportunities ahead, including a face-off with Purton at Happy Valley on Wednesday. According to analysis by scmp.com, in just three weeks, McDonald has notched up 13 wins from 56 rides, maintaining an impressive 23.2% strike rate, slightly ahead of Purton’s 22.4%. The HK$63 million in prize money McDonald has amassed during this short period leaves him just HK$13.7 million behind Purton’s season total. The 32-year-old’s performance is a marked improvement from this time last year when he had only five wins from 42 rides before building momentum in January. As the newly crowned Longines World’s Best Jockey, McDonald has been in high demand, dominating the Jockey Challenge in four of his seven meetings in Hong Kong, compared to Purton’s one win. This Wednesday, both jockeys will again battle for supremacy at Happy Valley, with Purton booked for a full slate of rides and McDonald piloting eight runners. For Purton, the irony of seeing his wish for McDonald’s arrival fulfilled in such spectacular fashion may not be lost on him – sometimes, wishes come with unexpected consequences.

James McDonald is riding the crest of a wave (pic: hkjc.com)