Purton eyes TJ Smith win on Giga Kick: ‘I’ve got unfinished business’

Zac Purton gets plenty of offers of rides to come back to Australia, but when Giga Kick was on offered to him in next monrht’s TJ Smith, the Hong Kong’s champion jockey “had unfinished business”.

He will be at Randwick for the first day of The Championships to ride Giga Kick in the TJ Smith and Evaporate in the Doncaster, which will give him the chance to extend his lead in the World’s Best Jockey standings.

Ka Ying Rising has given Purton an outstanding start in the year-long competition for jockeys around the world across the top-100 races.

“It is so hard to be competitive in that [the World’s Best Jockey] because we don’t have many chances here in Hong Kong in it,” Purton said. “It’s nice to be in front but very hard for me to win, once the season starts in Europe and Australia.

“It’s not why I’m coming, I’m coming because Giga Kick is the right horse in the right race.

“When I come out there [to Australia], I want to make sure I’m making the trip for the right reasons.

“You don’t many chances in a race like the TJ Smith on a Giga Kick.

“I rode him in it a couple of years ago and he ran second [to I Wish I Win in 2023], so I have unfinished business.”

Giga Kick’s regular rider Mark Zahra will be riding boom three-year-old Tentyris in the TJ, leaving the ride on the Everest winner available.

It will give Purton the feel of one of the Everest contenders for later in the year, when he plans to return with Ka Ying Rising, as well as a look at those around him in the race.

Purton doesn’t have plans to ride any other days of the carnival at the moment.

“I just wait and see what is offered and then look at the form, but for the right horse I’ll always come,” Purton said.

It is hard for Purton to commit for Golden Slipper day as the next day is the Hong Kong Derby. But this year he is without a Derby ride.