Icon Zac Purton may be an Australian son, but his strides in Hong Kong steered him to the top. Since 2007/2008, his jockey career in Hong Kong has only seen surges. Like Football has celebrated the Chinese New Year Cup for over 110 years now, the horse racing domain decided to bring their version. In one of the inaugural races of 2024, equine and human athletes beheld a stellar show on February 12, which had Purton and his son making horse racing news, amid mirth and gaiety.
Purton’s quest for honors hasn’t made him any less of a family man. Married to Nicole Purton, the duo has welcomed two adorable kids, Roxy and Cash. Years later, as both the kids accompany their father to several events now, we glimpsed the cutest moment on Purton’s recent Chinese New Year Cup win.
Horse racing news: Zac Purton has stolen fans’ hearts
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Aboard Red Lion, Purton snared the feature on February 12, as both of them soared to victory on Monday’s bumper Lunar New Year programme at Sha Tin. He has been moved to 65 wins now, and in no time, he can equal his 2022/2023 career standings. Though the first half of the race was exacting, the smooth finish bore fruits. But after the race, Purton stepped down from the pole position, only to spend quality time with his fans. Nicole Purton’s Instagram story reading, “Giving Daddy his winning @snickers_bar @zacpurton” stole the limelight. Featuring little Cash in jockey attire, the story stood as a testament to the endearing bond the father and the son share.
World Horse Racing’s Instagram post caught him signing fan caps and clicking selfies with a young bunch. But him popping the Snickers bar as soon as his son offered him one, melted hearts. But this is not all that Cash offers. Willing to walk in his father’s footsteps, the baby wants to see himself as a jockey someday. But he doesn’t have his mother’s consent though.
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‘Her racing highness’ shares some inside stories
Purton’s wife, the eldest daughter of a Kiwi jockey, has grown up seeing her father ride 104 Group 1 winners. Knowledgeable about everything horse racing, she tried to deter her son’s wish of becoming a jockey. “I don’t want to watch my baby out there. It’s hard enough for me to watch Zac. I don’t need that level of stress”. But the little one may have a career as a trainer, though.
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Nicole Purton further said, “He’s good at giving direct feedback to jockeys. Ask Zac. He tells Zac to go straight to bed whenever he gets home from a meeting without riding a winner”. The bloodline speaks volumes when the family sees Cash talk and place opinions like his father. There is another year of successes waiting for the Hong Kong Champion jockey now.
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