Zac Purton Wins International Jockey's Championship But Hollie Doyle Steals Show In Hong Kong
- Zac Purton took out the 2020 Internationals Jockey's Championsip
- It was Purton's second win in the championship
- Hollie Doyle rode her first winner in Hong Kong in her fourth race
Zac Purton of Australia during the Hong Kong Gold Cup day at the Sha Tin racecourse on February 16, 2020 (Getty Images)
Despite Zac Purton notching up his second win in the International Jockey's Championship, it was Hollie Doyle who stole the show taking out the fourth and final leg of the series overnight.
In just her fourth ride at Hong Kong, the 24-year-old English jockey guided Harmony N Blessed to victory around the tight Happy Valley circuit.
World renowned for its serenity, stunning views and compact turns, the Happy Valley circuit would be unlike any that Doyle had ridden before, but that didn't stop her from becoming the first woman to ride a winner in the competition.
Settling outside the leader, Doyle took the lead aboard the David Hayes trained four-year-old gelding early in the straight, fighting off a strong challenge by Grateful Heart in the concluding stages.
Zac Purton secured the Hong Kong Jockeys Premiership for the fourth time last season and recorded his second win in International Jockey's Championship last night, once again edging out arch-rival Joao Moreira in second.
All attention now turns towards the Longines Hong Kong International Races on Sunday where international superstars will converge upon Sha Tin for a massive day of racing highlighted by the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Hong Kong Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and the Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
