24 February 2023 , 12:09
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Superstar jockey Zac Purton has been hit with a severe fine after he called out Hong Kong’s new chief steward for being “too strict”.
Purton said Marc Van Gestel had “lost the confidence of the jockeys’ room” after he became one of nine jockeys in six meetings to have been suspended since the new supremo started.
Australian Purton has ridden more than 1,500 winners in Hong Kong, winning five jockeys championships and is well on course towards a sixth title.
Yet he incurred the ire of the Hong Kong Jockey Club when he spoke to the South China Morning Post after picking up a two meeting careless riding ban.
“I’ve been here for 16 years. Not once have I seen a jockey get suspended for what I got suspended for on Sunday,” he told the Hong Kong daily.
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“If this is the standard Van Gestel is going to set - that you’re going to get suspended for crowding another runner in a race - we’re not going to end up with any jockeys on the roster.”
Purton said that Van Gestel, who joined the Hong Kong Jockey Club after performing a similar role in Sydney should not have been put into the hot seat until he had gained more experience of Hong Kong, where there is only a small jockey colony.
He claimed international riders would not want to visit Hong Kong for fear of picking up a costly suspension.
Purton was charged with damaging the reputation of the Jockey Club with his comments and pleaded guilty when he appeared before stewards who issued a £15,000 fine.