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!

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