Seven weeks after fracturing his toe in a nasty fall, Zac Purton is itching to return to race using when he reunites with Ka Ying Rising and Galaxy Patch on Sunday.
The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey, who additionally groups up with Ka Ying Rising’s half-brother on Sunday, underwent surgical procedure and was compelled to look at on from the sidelines after breaking his left massive toe in a three-horse fall at Sha Tin on February 9.
“It feels fairly good. It’s somewhat bit niggly, however nothing to fret about,” Purton mentioned of his toe. “I’ve ridden in additional ache earlier than so it’s not going to fret me.”
After lacking the profitable experience on Ka Ying Rising in final month’s Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m), Purton hops again aboard the David Hayes-trained gelding in Sunday’s Group Two Dash Cup (1,200m).
The sprinter broadly thought-about the most effective on the planet bids for an eleventh consecutive victory en path to his subsequent Group One purpose, the Chairman’s Dash Prize (1,200m) on April 27.
He warmed up for the Dash Cup with a straightforward trial win beneath Purton final week.
“He’s a pleasant horse to be coming again for and I’m simply trying ahead to getting again on the market,” Purton mentioned.
“I’ve been on his again on the trials and in a bit of labor. He simply continues to please us and do all the things nicely. He’s fairly uncomplicated. He’s happy us in each little factor he’s executed right here in Hong Kong. He’s the proper little racehorse.”
Ka Ying Rising will once more be a raging favorite when he clashes with six rivals – California Spangle, Helios Specific, Fortunate With You, Magic Management, Copartner Prance and Beautiful Win.
Purton’s different characteristic experience on Sunday, Galaxy Patch, additionally has plain claims within the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m).
It will likely be Purton’s first time using Galaxy Patch beneath race situations, with Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s elegant miler bidding for his first win since final October.
“I wouldn’t say he’s on the crossroads, however he’s been somewhat bit disappointing not too long ago,” Purton mentioned.
“I rode him in that trial [last week] and I simply marvel if he is perhaps higher with the blinkers again on, however he clearly doesn’t have them for this race.
“He didn’t appear to be that targeted for me within the trial and he was doing all his finest racing early in his profession with blinkers on, then they took them off him to go up in distance.
“It’s my first time using him on race day and also you get a greater impression of what a horse is de facto like after you experience them in that situation, so I’ll be taught a bit about him on the weekend. He’s clearly a proficient horse, we’ve simply acquired to attempt get him going the fitting approach once more.”
Galaxy Patch has gained seven of his 17 begins however has trailed dwelling star galloper Voyage Bubble on his previous 4 runs.
One other of Purton’s 9 rides on Sunday is Ka Ying Rising’s half-brother Ka Ying Glory, who makes his race debut within the first part of the Class 4 Plantation Handicap (1,200m).
Additionally skilled by Hayes, the son of Flip Me Unfastened has gained his two most up-to-date trials in wonderful fashion.
“He’s clearly a pleasant horse. He appears like he’s extra of a 1,400m horse or a miler, however he’s a extremely bold-going horse,” Purton mentioned.
“He has to start out on the 1,200m simply to attempt to get the tempo of the race to assist him chill out a bit, however he’s been robust in all his trials.
“Even when he has pulled he’s nonetheless kicked on, which is kind of uncommon – usually once they pull as onerous as he does, they usually drop out.
“He’s clearly acquired a good quantity of means there, it’s only a matter of hopefully getting him into the fitting rhythm within the race for him to point out that.”
Volcanic Spark, Bottomuptogether, With A Smile, La Forza, Sunny Da Greatest and One other World are Purton’s different rides.
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