Eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton secures 2,000th win

Eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton secures his 2,000th win in the city.

Darting straight out of stall 10, blue-shirted Zac Purton and "Rising World" were briefly overtaken by "Ever Wealth" until the final 200 metres in the first race of the day at the Sha Tin Racecourse.

With just 150 metres to spare, the eight-time champion jockey surged past Ever Wealth right before the finish line, making history and notching his 2,000th win in Hong Kong.

Purton, who hails from Australia, first arrived in Hong Kong as a jockey back in 2007, is the only jockey to have won all Group 1 races in the city.

The Australian beat predecessor Douglas Whyte's record of 1,813 wins early last year before he was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in the same year.

Just last month, Purton and top racehorse "Ka Ying Rising" set records by achieving a 20 race winning streak.

Now 43-years-old, Purton says he is pleased his family was there to witness his record-setting victory.

It's great that I could ride my 2,000th winner here at Sha Tin today with the kids here.

They really wanted to be here when I hit the milestone so it's nice that they're involved.

It shows you that if you can do all of those things, then you can be successful.

There's no bigger product of that in Hong Kong than me.

I never had anything handed to me.

I never had the red carpet rolled out for me.

When I turned up, none of the leading trainers wanted to use me.

I had to start at the bottom.

Hong Kong teaches you to be resilient.

It teaches you to work hard.

It teaches you to keep turning up.

It teaches you to be determined.