ZAC Purton will look back on the 2019 Hong Kong season with satisfaction.

The regular rider of one of the highest rated horses in the world in Beauty Generation, he is leading the 2019 Longines World’s Best Jockey competition, and he has broken the record for prize money in a season in Hong Kong, with HK$207,714,765 in prize money won.

“It certainly has been a season I will always remember,” Purton said. “It’s a shame it has to come to an end soon. The whole Beauty Generation season has been a real highlight – from breaking the track record to destroying the opposition in the Longines Hong Kong Mile in December to remaining unbeaten through his eight-start campaign, which set a new record for most wins in a single season by any horse here in Hong Kong.”

Beauty Generation is currently the co-highest rated horse in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings and he and Purton have made an excellent team. Beauty Generation has not tasted defeat since April 2018, and his victories this calendar year include the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile, Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, Group 1 Stewards’ Cup, and Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy.

“He’s an amazing horse and a dream to ride really,” Purton said. “He does get led to the gates to make sure we get there safely, but once those gates open, he’s a dream ride. I just let him use his speed, get him in a rhythm. The key is to keep the pace rolling, since he’s better off a fast or genuine speed, and then allow him to bully the race.”

Purton is also the regular rider of the highly-regarded Exultant, who won the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in December and this year has taken the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, and Group 3 Centenary Vase.

“He’s a tricky horse to ride, as so many things need to go right for him to be competitive,” Purton said. “We always need a tempo to suit and the opportunity to make our run earlier than what I normally would.”

Australian, Purton (36) made his way to Hong Kong during the 2007/08 season. During the 2013/14 season, he became the first Australian jockey since Noel Barker in 1991 to win the Hong Kong jockey championship title, while also ending a 13-year run by South African Douglas Whyte. Then in December 2017, Purton became just the third jockey to have won all four of the Longines Hong Kong International Races.

“It was a great feeling of satisfaction,” Purton said. “It’s hard enough to win one but to have all four is special. Hopefully I can win all four in one day. Hong Kong is a place that always amazed me. From as far back as I can remember I had an interest in the racing here. To watch the list of the best jockeys from around the world battle it out every meeting was something special.

“Everyone that was riding here or had ridden here had always commented about how competitive it was and how much they improved as a rider once leaving. I knew it was a place that I wanted to test myself in one day.”

Because of the way the racing calendar falls in Hong Kong, he is also being pragmatic but hopeful about the fact that he is currently leading the Longines World’s Best Jockey competition, which is based upon the Top 100 Group/Grade 1 races in the world.

“It’s always nice to be recognised, but unfortunately I’ve run out of races here in Hong Kong to pick up any more points,” Purton said.