Australian jockey Zac Purton has ended speculation of a Sydney riding comeback by committing to another season in Hong Kong.
The champion hoop told local media that after a lengthy discussion with his family, they have decided to remain in Hong Kong for at least one more season.
“At the end of the day, it just came down to the discussions we had with the Jockey Club. Whether they were going to be more flexible than they had been, whether it was going to be easier to base myself in Australia,” Purton said.
“Certainly, at one stage, I had one foot out the door, and the other foot was nearly with it. I suppose you could say at the 11th hour, the club threw a little bit of a Hail Mary, and I caught the ball.”
Purton explained that Hong Kong racing officials have agreed to allow him to travel more frequently to major racing carnivals next season.
“But then it was like the racing community in Hong Kong and the general public here started to feel that, and the support I was receiving from Hong Kong ended up becoming tenfold from the owners, the trainers and the fans here.
“I’ve had constant messages every single day asking me to stay. It makes us feel very wanted here in Hong Kong, and the family is settled.”
