When you are a top jockey on potentially the best horse in the city’s biggest race you’d think life would be simple, but that’s far from the case for Zac Purton in this year’s BMW Hong Kong Kong Derby.
Purton goes into the big race at Sha Tin confident that California Spangle has more than enough class to follow up his Classic Cup victory but knows that he will have to conserve as much energy as possible if he is to prevail.
“I think he’s potentially going to be the best horse to come out of the race,” Purton said. “He’s very talented and he’s already shown us that. He’s not at his proper distance and he’s still competing and performing exceptionally well.
“As he steps back to a more suitable distance in the future we’ll see a really nice horse, but for the time being we have to stretch him out and go for the really big prize because it’s there in front of us.”
The draw in stall 10 has not been kind to California Spangle but, regardless of his barrier, there would have been no change of tactics for the Tony Cruz-trained star.
“The 2,000m start at Sha Tin is really tricky because you have a very short run to the first turn and my horse is suspect at the distance so I’d always prefer to draw well than to the outside,” Purton said.
“I think the 2,000m is really going to stretch him. He’s probably a really good sprinter-miler but because he’s so good his class has managed to get him to 1,800m and now he’s got to stretch to 2,000m.
“It’s a really big ask for him so the softer the run he can have early, the better chance he’ll have at the distance. My horse is not a horse you hold up and hold on to and get him to sprint. He’s a horse you let get into a rhythm and roll along as he’s comfortable and then he performs well.”
Despite his opponents being aware of his game plan, Purton does not expect too much pressure to be applied on California Spangle early.
“The barriers will dictate how certain jockeys ride certain horses but they have to be mindful that they have to give their horse the best chance to win the race,” Purton said.
“It’s no use for them to ride upside down to pressure my horse as that will upset their own performance.”
As you would expect from any leading rider, Purton has assessed his big-race rivals in an attempt to ascertain his biggest dangers and Classic Mile winner Romantic Warrior sits atop his list of threats.
“Romantic Warrior was caught four wide without cover last time and someone told me that he covered five and a half more lengths than I did, so if he was to swap runs with my horse on the day, he clearly beats me home and he’s going to be better suited by the distance,” Purton said.
Purton ticks off another big race as Spangle sparkles in Classic Cup
“Turin Redstar was held up a little bit on straightening and finished the race really strong and it looks like the 2,000m is going to suit him, as it will for The Irishman and Senor Toba.
“Barriers, luck in running, tempo and track condition will also dictate how the race will be run. Quite often on the A course, the inside of the track in the home straight can be like quicksand so it could suit horses that settle and swoop down the centre.”
Purton witnessed Joao Moreira close his title lead at Happy Valley on Wednesday and away from the Derby he is concerned about his Sha Tin rides.
“I’d like to get better-quality rides at Sha Tin than what I’ve been getting,” Purton said. “I feel like my books there have been a little weak and I really need to strengthen those up if I’m going to keep being competitive.”
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