Zac Purton has concerns as Romantic Warrior faces litmus test in Turnbull Stakes at Flemington
Zac Purton has ridden on and against Romantic Warrior but has reservations on how the Hong Kong star will measure up in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
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Legendary jockey Zac Purton believes Hong Kong raider Romantic Warrior needs to prove where he is at internationally, saying he is “very good” but admits he is sceptical of the opposition he’s beaten.
The six-time champion Hong Kong hoop has the unique perspective of having both ridden against and on Romantic Warrior and said he has been in the right place at the right time.
Danny Shum’s three-time Group 1 winner is all the rage in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington (2000m) in what will throw up a new set of challenges in going anticlockwise and potentially a wet track.
Romantic Warrior demolished the field in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup and QE II Cup over 2000m last season, however was also beaten as a $1.20 favourite in the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup under Purton over 2400m.
“I’m just not quite sure where he is at internationally because I think the international races he has been in here – December I don’t think the Japanese horses turned up and in the QE II the race was run at a pedestrian speed and he was in the right spot, he controlled it,” Purton told Racenet.
READ: ROMANTIC WARRIOR ‘WAY UNDER THE ODDS’ IN TURNBULL
“I’m interested to see where he measures up.
“I think he has been in the right spots at the right times and hasn’t really been tested when it has mattered, it is going to be a good test for him.”
Purton has long been Shum’s go-to man in the saddle, with the pair even winning the Group 1 King’s Stand at Royal Ascot together in 2012, however he admits he has missed the opportunity on Romantic Warrior.
Karis Teetan went on to win the lucrative Hong Kong Derby on the horse, before being punted for superstar James McDonald.
“He is very good, unfortunately I haven’t really been on him at the right times,” Purton said.
“I was riding him in some early trackwork and some barrier trials early last season when he wasn’t quite ready, then James came in and rode him on raceday.
“When I did finally get on him, it was at the end of our season in a race over 2400m and he got challenged 1000m from home, so it brought him undone.
“The timing hasn’t been right for my association with him, but he is a quality horse, he is a winner.”
Originally published as Zac Purton has concerns as Romantic Warrior faces litmus test in Turnbull Stakes at Flemington
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