In this episode of The Beat The Odds Horse Racing Show, Tony Manzella sits down with Zac Purton — Hong Kong’s all-time winningest jockey — for a rare look inside the mindset of one of the sport’s greatest riders.
From his early dreams of becoming a jockey to dominating Hong Kong racing, Zac opens up about the journey that made him a global star. He shares memories of his first win, his move to Hong Kong, and what a typical day looks like for a top-class rider in one of the toughest racing jurisdictions in the world.
🏇 Topics Covered:
- When Zac knew he wanted to be a jockey — and who inspired him early on
- His first victory and how it shaped his career
- The move to Hong Kong and adapting to an intense racing culture
- How training, preparation, and race-day routines differ from other countries
- Mental preparation before big races and how he studies replays and pace setups
- The highs and lows of being a jockey — best and worst parts of the job
- His major career goals after achieving almost everything in Hong Kong
🐎 Legendary Horses Discussed:
- Military Attack – the G1 powerhouse that launched him to stardom
- Beauty Generation – the once-in-a-lifetime champion he calls “the horse of my career”
- Lucky Sweynesse – a winning machine who went 5-for-5 under Purton early on
- Ka Ying Rising – 14-for-16 and heading to The Everest Stakes 2025 in Australia
🏌️♂️ Plus, we step away from racing for a bit as Zac talks golf, life away from the saddle, and the horses he wishes he could’ve ridden in history.
📺 Watch until the end as Zac shares what one race best defines who he is as a world-class jockey.
Subscribe for more interviews with the legends of the sport!
#ZacPurton #TheEverest2025 #KaYingRising #HongKongRacing #HorseRacingPodcast #BeatTheOddsHorseRacing #TonyManzella #BeautyGeneration #LuckySweynesse #MilitaryAttack #TheEverest #HKJC
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