Gold Patch delivers Landmark win for Purton
New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate Gold Patch (NZ) (Ardrossan) provided a milestone moment at Sha Tin on Sunday, handing champion jockey Zac Purton his 100th winner of the season with a determined performance in the Class 3 Enabling Professionals To Flourish For Their Charge Handicap (1200m).
Prepared by Francis Lui, the progressive gelding showed grit under pressure, overcoming mid-race adversity before quickening smartly to secure victory.
The son of Ardrossan was secured for $250,000 by owner Kin Man Yeung from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge.
For Purton, the victory carried added significance. The eight-time Hong Kong champion brought up a century of wins in a season for the 10th consecutive campaign and the 11th time overall, underlining his remarkable consistency at the top level.
“It sounds good, doesn’t it? It’s got a nice ring to it and an even number, which is good,” Purton said.
Reflecting on Gold Patch’s performance, Purton was encouraged by the horse’s raw ability and scope for improvement.
“He’s a nice, young, improving horse – he still doesn’t know what he’s doing.
“He overcame a bit of adversity again in the mid-stages and he’s shown a nice ability to quicken. He did a really good job.”
Now 43, Purton first reached 100 wins in a Hong Kong season in 2013/14 and has continued to set the benchmark ever since, amassing a career tally approaching 2,000 wins in the city.
