There was a time when he was on pace to exceed 200 wins in 2022-23 and while he has unsurprisingly slowed, Zac Purton remains on track to better Joao Moreira’s single-season record of 170 wins as the Hong Kong term prepares to tick over the halfway mark.

With 87 victories through 43 of the 88 meetings, Purton only has to replicate what he has already done this campaign to sail past Moreira’s mark, but things have already got harder for the Australian.

To go at more than two wins a meeting like he has so far this term – he missed two through Covid – is ridiculous enough in a place where only Purton, Moreira and Douglas Whyte have reached a century of victories in a season.

To do what Purton did through a purple patch from early October to early December – during which he peeled off 40 wins in the 14 meetings he rode at – is otherworldly.

Among that run was the Australian’s first-ever seven timer, a haul that really kicked talk of a record tilt into gear.

But Purton’s dominance that afternoon on October 9 came at a time when the city’s jockey ranks were seriously lacking depth, with Moreira back in Brazil recovering from an injury that would ultimately end his Hong Kong career, Karis Teetan sidelined with a thyroid condition and Hugh Bowman yet to enter the fray.

Now, though, the roster is as strong as it has been all term. For the first time this season, Teetan, Bowman, reigning Tony Cruz Award winner Matthew Chadwick – who returned from a fractured ankle on Wednesday night – and Alexis Badel, who himself missed seven weeks through injury, are fit and firing at the same time.

Bowman, especially, will make life hard for his countryman as he becomes more settled after committing to stay for the rest of the campaign. He had his biggest month yet in January with 10 wins – only three fewer than Purton – and he has matched the record-seeking superstar so far in February with four successes.

Throw in Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Silvestre de Sousa, Lyle Hewitson and Derek Leung Ka-chun and there is some genuine competition for Purton as he looks to manufacture the 84 wins he needs from the remaining 45 meetings at just under two a meeting.

There is no doubt Purton is capable of the extraordinary but Wednesday night’s card – where Ho, Bowman, Leung, Hewitson and Badel hit the scoreboard, but the reigning champion jockey did not – will have to be one of his last winless outings if he is going to rewrite the record books.

More pain for De Sousa

One thing that may have assisted Purton is the rate De Sousa has been getting suspended and the Brazilian is showing no signs of slowing down, earning himself another three-meeting holiday and a whopping HK$120,000 fine for careless riding aboard Lucky Missile on Wednesday night.

De Sousa, who sits third in the premiership with 33 wins, has already missed nine meetings through suspension and will now the miss the next two fixtures as well as another three in March.

Overseas entries keep rolling in

While connections have confirmed Golden Sixty will not be heading to Meydan for the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) in March, the steady stream of overseas entries for Hong Kong-based gallopers has continued this week.

The latest came on Wednesday, with the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained Duke Wai entered for the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in Japan on March 26.

Duke Wai is also entered for the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) at the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 25 and is joined by fellow Hong Kong-trained speedsters Sight Success, Sky Field and Super Wealthy among the nominations.

Russian Emperor and Senor Toba (Group One Dubai Sheema Classic (2,410m)), Glorious Dragon, Russian Emperor and Tourbillon Diamond (Dubai Turf) and Apache Pass and Handsome Twelve (Group Two Godolphin Mile (1,600m) on dirt) are the other Hong Kong gallopers with World Cup night entries.

Senor Toba (Group Two Dubai City Of Gold (2,410m)), Apache Pass (Group Three Burj Nahaar (1,600m) on dirt) and Duke Wai (Group Three Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (1,200m)) also hold entries for Super Saturday races at Meydan on March 4.

On top of this, Russian Emperor and Senor Toba are heading to Qatar for next weekend’s H.H. The Amir Trophy (2,400m).