Purton under the microscope

‘Australian jockey under investigation in Hong Kong’ – over the years that’s been a recurring theme, with the most recent ‘big one’ in 2007 ending in tears and gaol for Chris Munce, now riding plenty of winners in Queensland and the stain of Honkers having pretty much faded into irrelevance in the most pragmatic of sports/industries.

The latest to feel the wrath of the stewards in Hong Kong is Zac Purton, who has made HK home, with considerable success and with nothing more than ‘standard’ race-riding misdemeanours, for four years.

Until this week when the Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards, led by chief steward Kim Kelly (an Australian) fined him 300 grand for doing nothing – literally. (That’s HK$300,000 by the way, about A$75,000 but still a big whack.)

The probe concerned meetings with a crook, a punter involved in the Munce case who apparently twice asked Purton to ‘do a Munce’ – tip him winners and profit from it.

Purton said he twice told the punter he’d have none of it, and stewards said he had done the right thing.

But he’d also not done something. He had not reported the incidents, hence the fine.

Purton pleaded guilty to keeping it to himself. No problem there, but he told the South China Morning Post he would appeal over the size of the fine.

The result is a story for another day. In the meantime, as the SCMP reported today, Purton showed his class in the saddle with a double at Happy Valley last night to pass 50 wins for the season and close on third place in the jockeys’ premiership – Douglas Whyte (92) wins the title, Brett Prebble (71) is second and with four meetings left this season Purton (51) might overtake Darren Beadman (53), who has a two-meeting suspension to serve.

This is the first time Purton, in his fourth full season in HK after riding successfully in Brisbane and Sydney, has topped 50. Last year he rode 48 winners.

Watchers suggest he is the Aussie on the rise there and the man most likely to unseat Whyte, who this season wins his 11th straight premiership. Regular runner-up Prebble almost did it last season, but just can’t get over the Whyte hump. Beadman is restricted by his contract with trainer John Moore (he is retained by the stable and can ride only a certain number of outside horses, whereas the other jocks are employed by the HKJC and can spread their services more).

Another young Australian, Tye Angland, who had a winner last night (his 17th in his first, injury-hit season), is well regarded but has a long way to go. Another up-and-comer from Sydney, Tim Clark, will join the ranks at the start of next season, in September.

Purton’s fine, whether it remains the full 300 or is cut, will be re-earned without too much difficulty. What could be costly is the innuendo that always accompanies such cases and often tarnishes reputations.

Purton will just have to ride through that. And, on last night’s evidence, he can do so.