Stewards in Hong Kong have adjourned an inquiry into Zac Purton’s riding of the John Size-trained Nebraskan in the Class 4 Star Shine Handicap (1200m) at the final Happy Valley meeting of the season on Wednesday night.
Nebraskan, who was sent out at $7.8 in the betting, placed fourth, beaten by three and three-quarter lengths in the seventh event. The three-year-old broke from barrier 11 and worked hard in the early stages to position outside the leader approaching the 700m point.
Purton’s mount appeared to try to lay out when turning out of the backstretch, however, particular emphasis has been placed by the stewards on the degree of vigour Purton applied to Nebraskan in the home straight.
Nebraskan shifted left and right in the home run, nudging the winner Prince Of Porty on his inner and then to his outer, bumping fifth-placed Lean Master on two occasions before Purton started pushing through the final 50 metres.
Evidence was taken from Purton, who according to the Stewards’ Report said that on entering the home straight Nebraskan shifted ground, ‘which impacted his ability to apply full vigour to the horse.’
The report also stated that after making contact with Prince Of Porty passing the 175-metre mark and with Lean Master near the 150-metre mark, Purton was ‘concerned that Nebraskan would continue to shift ground.’
For this reason, the report said, the champion jockey did not apply full vigour to Nebraskan between the 150-metre and the 50-metre marks. He further stated that when he was satisfied that Nebraskan was properly balanced, he was able to ride him out to the finish over the final 50 metres.
Following their assessment of the evidence, stewards postponed the inquiry to a future date and time.
Purton heads into the final meeting for the 2023/24 season with a quality book of 10 rides across the 11-race fixture at Sha Tin on Sunday, including four for title contender Francis Lui and two for the premiership leader Pierre Ng.
Lui (66 wins) has assembled a strong 10-horse assault and the formidable partnership forged with Purton this season could further play a critical role in his quest for his first trainers’ premiership.
Striking at 44 per cent after winning 15 races from the 34 times they have combined, Lui and Purton chase a hat-trick of wins with promising three-year-old Call Me Glorious in the Class 2 Joy And Fun Handicap (1200m), while they will be hoping up-and-coming three-year-old Packing Hermod takes the next step in the Class 3 Pingwu Spark Handicap (1200m).

One of Idol Horse’s ‘Five Horses To Follow From 2023/24’, Packing Hermod tries Sha Tin for the first time after debuting at Happy Valley in late June.
Purton and Lui will also team up with three-year-old Steps Ahead in the Class Four Big Profit Handicap (1400m), as well as with one of this season’s standout four-year-olds, Chancheng Glory, in the day’s feature race, the Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1600m).