Zac Purton reflects on early Queensland riding

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Adermann

Champion hoop Zac Purton has credited his early days of riding in South East Queensland towards propelling him to become one of the great jockeys of his generation in the world. 

In a coup for the Queensland Racing Carnival in 2026, the legendary jockey will return to the Sunshine State and compete for the Doomben 10,000.

It has been a decade since Purton rode in Queensland when he scored aboard Kiwi youngster Sacred Elixir in the J.J. Atkins of 2016.

The 43-year-old learnt his trade of riding on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales before progressing to Eagle Farm and Doomben via the Gold Coast.

Reflecting on his journey from his early days in Queensland to becoming an icon in Hong Kong, Purton believes his learnings around tactics and riding styles in Brisbane helped paved his way to the top.

“I think it was all those tight turning tracks where you had to be on speed,” Purton said.

“You had to be good out the gates. It really made me sharp and I think that that has sort of moulded me into the jockey that I am.

“It's a common comment that I receive, how good I am out of the gates and how quick I am able to get a position.

“I certainly do think that that was carved in the early stages of my career there. It's competitive. It was great, it's intense.

“It’s high speed, high pressure, good firm fast tracks, which I like, they are usually strongly run races, plenty of speed in the races, which is good.

“They're competitive, you've got to be on your game when you're there.

“It certainly set me up well for the latter stages in my career, especially here in Hong Kong, because the racing in Brisbane is run at a very strong speed.”

In his junior days riding in SEQ, Purton claimed the coveted Brisbane jockey's premiership as an apprentice back in 2003, which history showcases is a rare feat for a rider.

Purton hails from Lismore on the Northern Rivers of NSW and made his name riding on the biggest stage in Hong Kong after stops in Brisbane and Sydney in the middle.

Despite all that, as he prepares for his return to Queensland later this year, the leading hoop admits that he regards the Sunshine State as ‘home’.

“It does feel a little bit like I'm coming back home,” he said.

“I've got very fond memories of my time in Brisbane, living there and on the Gold Coast, as well.

“Queensland's a special place. My sister still lives there. My brother lives in Queensland, as well. I do have family there.

“So, it is home for me and it's where I cut my teeth. That's where it started and I'm always excited to get back there.

“It's a homecoming. I always look forward to getting back home and seeing my friends and family back in Australia.

“There's no better place to do that than in the winter sunshine there off in Queensland.”

The Hong Kong-based riding champion is set to ride on Doomben 10,000 day, which falls on May 16 and is the first Group 1 day of the winter carnival.

Speaking earlier this month, Purton details that it is too early yet to declare who he will ride in the Doomben 10,000 of 2026 but he has his eyes and ears open in regards to potential mounts.

He will also be available for bookings on the other feature races on the program which include the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic for the two-year-olds, the Rough Habit Plate for the year older while the Chairman’s and the Bernborough Handicaps will also boast a $200,000 purse.

Purton has been booked to ride on the Doomben 10,000 program with the meeting holding World Pool status.

Purton’s trips back to Australia to ride have been few and far between in recent campaigns.

In his most recent trip to Brisbane, he scored at the highest level aboard Sacred Elixir as the juvenile blitzed the field by more than three lengths.

He also won the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes over 1400 metres aboard the David Pfieffer-prepared Cradle Me on that afternoon.

“I'm long overdue to be back there,” he said.

“It'd be nice to win another one of the feature races there.

“To have my journey start there in Queensland and take me to where I've got to, it's been quite an amazing journey, really, when I do think about it.

“I'm very thankful for all the support that I've received.”

Purton also rode on Doncaster day in Sydney on Saturday, claiming the Country Championships Final aboard Chidiac for the training partnership of Brett and Georgie Cavanough, who hail from Queensland.

The high-flying hoop was quickly back to Hong Kong in the hours after to pilot The Everest champion Ka Ying Rising in the Group 2 Sprint Cup at Sha Tin.

Purton earned a most deserving place in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame at the 2025 Australian Racing Hall of Fame and the Australian Racehorse of the Year event, which was held in Brisbane.