‘He has a bag of tricks’: Zac Purton warns Prognosis backers are in for a wild ride in Cox Plate

Zac Purton can offer a unique perspective on Japanese raider Prognosis and says nothing is straightforward with the Cox Plate favourite.

Gun jockey Zac Purton has warned punters it won’t be a straightforward watch for Prognosis backers in Saturday’s Cox Plate, saying the Japanese raider comes with a bag of tricks to match his high-end talent.

The Hong Kong-based superstar has ridden Prognosis at Sha Tin against last year’s Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior, and said he could have beaten him if he had his mind on the job.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Damian Lane will be in the saddle at The Valley on Saturday, with Purton saying the horse can measure up with some of the best from Japan on his day.

Prognosis has had three visits to Hong Kong, where he has suffered heartbreak at the hands of Romantic Warrior each time, the worst came on April this year when he badly bombed the start before carving his way through the field.

“He is a very good horse,” Purton said.

“But he has a bag of tricks, he isn’t the best out of the gates, but you can’t rev him because he gets on the bit and wants to charge and do things wrong.

Damian Lane will have his hands full with Prognosis on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

• Sunline jockey’s Cox Plate advice for Pride Of Jenni rider

“He can hang in a little bit, which makes him hard to move into the race at the right time.

“He hasn’t got an immediate turn of foot, he likes to work into it.”

The tight turning Valley has brought many undone over the years and Purton says he will need everything to fall into place to show his immense talent on Saturday.

“He has gone head to head with Romantic Warrior a few times and arguably could have beaten him every time,” Purton said.

“He has got it, he just needs the race run to suit.

“Those sort of horses, you need things to go their way for it to work out.

“Ability wise, he has the top-line talent.”

Prognosis is a $3.40 favourite for the $5m feature, with Via Sistina ($4.40) and Pride Of Jenni ($4.60) also in betting.

Originally published as ‘He has a bag of tricks’: Zac Purton warns Prognosis backers are in for a wild ride in Cox Plate