The first month of the new Hong Kong racing season is in the books, with some off to fast starts and others searching for improvement after battling to hit top form.

The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a September to remember or an opening month to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride of the month.

Who’s hot?

Zac Purton made an early statement as he continued his pursuit of Douglas Whyte’s all-time Hong Kong win record of 1,813, setting a new personal best for the opening three meetings of a season with nine victories including two four-timers at Sha Tin. It was business as usual for the seven-time champion jockey as he racked up 13 wins for the month at a strike rate of 24.5 per cent.

Mark Newnham looks set for a big second season in the city on the strength of his six wins from 32 runners in September. The astute Australian handler’s winning strike rate of 18.8 per cent is the best of all trainers on the roster. He looks on track to fulfil the expectation that he will rise in the premiership standings with a bigger and stronger team of 60-plus gallopers this term.

It was also a September to remember for Matthew Poon Ming-fai, with the local rider following up a double on opening day with another four winners to sit third behind Purton and Hugh Bowman in the championship. A $10 bet on all of his rides returned a whopping $750 – clearly the best of the 23 jockeys on the roster. While his form is probably not sustainable across the entire campaign, trainers have been handing him better opportunities and he can make hay while the sun is shining.

Who’s not?

It’s been a miserable start to the term for Frankie Lor Fu-chuen after he failed to strike from his 39 runners. Three of his beaten brigade started favourite, including boom four-year-old Bottomuptogether, who suffered his first career defeat when chased down by Rubylot on Saturday. He has the firepower in his stable to bounce back, but he will be desperate to do so quickly.

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu came into the season fit and ready to fire after riding through the summer overseas, but he has managed just two Happy Valley wins from 40 rides while failing to return to the winners’ enclosure at Sha Tin. Hong Kong’s leading home-grown jockey has been around the mark with eight placings and he is still getting solid support, suggesting a turnaround in form is not far away.

Win of the month

It’s hard to go past Ka Ying Rising’s stunning return in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) on opening day. The performance under top weight of 135 pounds, where he conceded 20 pounds to runner-up Beauty Waves but still cruised to victory by a length and a quarter, rated through the roof. According to former Post racing editor Alan Aitken, it was the best sprinting performance in the city in almost 20 years. Bring on the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on international day in December.

Ride of the month

Brenton Avdulla took The Golden Scenery back to last in the small field of seven in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) and produced a peach of a ride, saving ground with a run near the inside rail and scything his way between runners to chase down Taj Dragon. An honourable mention goes to Hugh Bowman for extricating Master Mastermind from a difficult position in the straight en route to victory.

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