Purton hopes to complete Japan/Hong Kong double

The jockeys' allocation for Wednesday night's International Jockeys'

Championship took place at Sha Tin Racecourse Monday morning. Top jockey Zac

Purton, fresh from winning the World Super Jockeys Series in Japan at the end of

November, is hoping his luck can hold for the annual Happy Valley event, which

has again drawn 12 of the world's finest riders.

"It's been quite a year and hopefully the good times aren't over yet," Purton

said in reference to Wednesday night and Sunday's International races, after the

allocation of mounts for the four International Jockeys' Championship races.

Purton has had much to celebrate in 2012 aside from his series win in Japan.

He, of course, partnered star Hong Kong sprinter Little Bridge to victory at

Royal Ascot in June; he was married to Nicole Cassidy last Friday and he is

second only to perennial champion Douglas Whyte in the jockeys' premiership this

season.

"On balance, it looks like my rides for Wednesday are OK," Purton said.

"Obviously I'll need to head home and have another look at the form and the

barrier draws and you always need a bit of luck in these races but we might be

all right.

"I'm riding two horses (All Lucky and Chancellor) for Tony Cruz and I'm not

that familiar with them but Matthew (Chadwick) seemed a bit disappointed that he

didn't draw at least one of them, so I'm taking that as a good sign."

Purton said he was also looking forward to the Hong Kong International Races

on Sunday when his mounts will include high profile runners Ambitious Dragon and

Little Bridge.

"It's a great week to be in Hong Kong even if it did mean we didn't get much

of a honeymoon," he said.

In the Hong Kong Sprint, Purton will be competing against his father-in-law

Jim Cassidy, who rides Australian sprinter Sea Siren.

Hong Kong's 12-time champion jockey Whyte was, like Purton, keen to do some

more homework before commenting on his Wednesday night prospects.

"I need to study the form a bit further and check the draws because we all

know how important that can be at the Valley. Whatever happens, I'll be giving

it my best shot," Whyte said.

Whyte, the current season premiership leader on 28 wins, will ride China

Delight, Expectator and two interesting runners for Derek Cruz in the final two

legs -- Honey Princess and My Home Town.

Honey Princess, from the United Kingdom, is having her first run in Hong Kong

and the three-year-old filly is one of the few female racehorses in training at

Sha Tin. My Home Town was a winner at the meeting last year.

Up-and-coming jockey Matthew Chadwick looks to have drawn well as he prepares

to take on Whyte, Purton and several more of the world's best riders. Chadwick

rides Very Well (whom he rode last start); the consistent performer Ray's

Favourite along with Victory Mascot and Great Renown.

The night's star studded line-up boasts Olivier Peslier, William Buick, Joao

Moreira, Ryan Moore, Christophe Lemaire, James McDonald, Craig Williams, Yuichi

Fukunaga and Frankel's jockey Tom Queally whose mounts include Travel Guide -- a

winner at last year's meeting for Frankie Dettori.

Click

here for the complete list of riding assignments in the four-race

competition.

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