Zac Purton Booked for El Vencedor

Media Release - Wednesday March 26

Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton has been booked to ride Kiwi raider El Vencedor in the Gr.1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin next month.

An invitation was extended to the connections of the in-form gelding following his golden run of form in New Zealand, which included consecutive victories in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

El Vencedor will be ridden in Hong Kong by champion hoop Zac Purton.   Photo: Selena Wright

In search of a rider, trainer Stephen Marsh was able to snare the services of Purton, who is set to return to raceday riding at Sha Tin this weekend after being sidelined with a broken toe, and he is excited to be aboard the Kiwi.

“I am going to ride El Vencedor for New Zealand in the QEII,” Purton told SEN’s Giddy Up With Gareth Hall.

“You can’t knock horses that are winning, and you take Romantic Warrior out of the race here from Hong Kong, Voyage Bubble is going back to the mile, so there is not really anything else around here over the mile-and-a-quarter.

“The Japanese horses will come, they are always very strong. If Goliath comes, he will be very hard to beat, but they have all got to get on the plane to come here first.

“I will ride him (El Vencedor), so that is a nice ride to pick-up.”

Advertisement

Purton will also partner fellow Kiwi-bred Ka Ying Rising in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on FWD Champions Day, with the pair set to reunite in Sunday’s Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.

The Australian native rode the son of Shamexpress to a trial victory last Friday, and he is excited to be back aboard the highest rated sprinter in the world after being sidelined with injury in his last raceday appearance when taking out the Gr.1 The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) in the hands of interim rider Karis Teetan.

“It was nice to jump on a horse of that quality in my first trial back,” Purton said. “It was good for my confidence as well coming back a winner.

“He is a pleasure to ride, he does everything right. It was nice of him to do what he normally does, he gave me a good feel, and he pulled up really well.

“He is in a really good frame of mind, he is in good shape and I am looking forward to riding him again on the weekend.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Written Tycoon Filly Captures Denise’s Joy Stakes
Starting as one of the outsiders in the 15 strong Listed Coolmore Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on Saturday, the Chris Waller trained Written Tycoon filly Summer Flame continued her solid form to record her first black type victory for owners Rosemont Stud.
Kiwi Bred Basilinna Books Melbourne Cup ticket
Emma-Lee and David Browne’s victory in the A$300,000 Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday was enormously valuable in more ways than one for the Kiwi couple.
Royal Ascot Goal for Starspangledbanner Filly
A Royal Ascot hero back in 2010, Starspangledbanner is well known for his slick juveniles and produced one at York overnight in the UK where Secret Hideaway won the Listed Marygate Fillies Stakes (5f).
Local Victory As Melody Again Wins Dark Jewel Classic
The final group race of the two-day Scone Cup carnival was a case of needing to see it, to believe it as Scott Singleton’s locally trained mare Melody Again came from last to win the $250,000 Group 3 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 15
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ultimate Gear Changes - Caballus Returns to Form with Stakes Victory
A four year-old son of I Am Invincible, Caballus has never lacked for talent, however his path has not been smooth since selling for $1million as a yearling back in 2022.
Sunshine in Paris Cracks $6million with Doomben 10,000 Victory
This time last year Bella Nipotina won the $1.5million Group I BRC Doomben 10,000 (1200m) before going on to claim victory in The Everest and it will be no surprise to see this year’s winner Sunshine in Paris also attempt the same feat.
Consecutive Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
Birthday boy Chris Munce was experiencing a stellar day at Doomben on Saturday adding Cool Archie’s Group 2 BTC Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) victory to his earlier victory of Brookhaven in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) the race prior.
Favourite Rolled in G2 Dante- So Who Was the Winner?
Boom Justify colt Ruling Court would have been resting easy in his box after the running of the Group II Dante Stakes (1m 2 ½ f at York overnight with race favourite The Lion in Winter beaten comfortably in this key lead up race for the Group I Epsom Derby on June 7.
First Stakes Win for Iffraaj Mare Francee
Visiting Brazilian hoop Bruno Queiroz is making every post a winner in his local riding stint by adding a maiden New Zealand stakes success to his bag of tricks as he guided gallant mare Francee to a thrilling victory in the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham.