Purton notches up record ninth HKIR victory as Normcore wins Hong Kong Cup

Zac Purton has crowned a week of stellar milestones by becoming the first rider in history to partner nine Hong Kong International Races winners after Japanese mare Normcore upstaged Win Bright and Magical in the $HK28 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

Purton, 37, gained the ride on the grey after Christophe Soumillon was forced to forfeit the mount after failing to secure an unconditional release from quarantine following a COVID test on Thursday.

On Wednesday at Happy Valley, Purton became only the second jockey after Douglas Whyte to reach 1200 winners in Hong Kong racing.

The reigning jockey champion, Purton was jubilant after breaking the Hong Kong International Races tie he had shared with Frenchman Gerard Mosse after Normcore outsprinted fellow Japanese runner Win Bright and Ireland’s Magical.

“It’s something I’m very proud of, it’s a great achievement,” he said.

“To also now be the only jockey to win the full set of international races twice is also for myself somewhat rewarding.

“Hopefully, I can just can continue to have luck at this meeting going forward.

“It’s been a great week, I’m very thankful that I get these opportunities.”

Purton was grateful to regain the ride on Normcore, whose previous Group 1 triumph came in the Victoria Mile when partnered by another Australian, Damian Lane, in May 2019.

“Initially we sort of confirmed the ride and then when it was announced Christophe was coming, they changed their mind. They’re entitled to do that,” Purton said.

“It was what it was, I just had to accept that. Thankfully, it came back.”

Normcore charges to Hong Kong Cup glory

Purton has been synonymous with Hong Kong International Races success with eight previous triumphs on the jurisdiction’s most prestigious day.

The New South Welshman savoured Vase glory with Dominant (2013) and Exultant (2018), the Mile with Ambitious Dragon (2012), Beauty Only (2016) and Beauty Generation (2018), Sprint with Aerovelocity (2014 and 2016) and the Cup with Time Warp in 2017.

Purton, who is among the world’s top jockey, stalked the 2019 Cup winner Win Bright in the run before peeling widest in a riveting global contest. Normcore was paying around the 10/1 quote with leading International betting sites.

Japan’s three runners finished in the top four, with Danon Premium trailing Magical to the line.

“She (Normcore) had to fight for it, Win Bright gave a really sharp kick and his love for Sha Tin was starting to show through,” Purton said.

“But she was determined and inch by inch, she just kept putting herself in the frame.”

Trained by Kiyoshi Hagiwara, Normcore ran fourth to Admire Mars in last year’s Hong Kong Mile.

Hagiwara has handled several topliners since taking out a trainers’ licence in 1996, including Logi Universe, Le Vent Se Leve and Obruchev.

Ryan Moore said a slackening mid-race tempo wrecked Magical’s chances of becoming the first horse trained by Aidan O’Brien to snare eight Group 1s.

“There was a lack of pace so therefore I couldn’t go where I wanted to go,” Moore said. “She ran well.”

Normcore is the first filly or mare to win a HKIR since Ed Dunlop’s champion Snow Fairy took the Cup in 2010.

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