Yes, indeed, my friends, this quote speaks great volumes.

Good wine needs no bush.

 

Good wine needs no bush.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzZ1c-GP4hm/

Zac Purton fined for criticising new HKJC chief steward Marc van Gestel

 

Zac Purton fined for criticising new HKJC chief steward Marc van Gestel

By Tom Biddington Saturday at 6:36am

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Superstar Australian jockey Zac Purton has been whacked with a HK$150,000 (approx. A$28,400) fine by the Hong Kong Jockey Club after publicly criticising new HK chief steward Marc van Gestel.

The five-time Hong Kong champion pleaded guilty to breaking the club's code of conduct after telling the South China Morning Post that Van Gestel, the former Racing NSW chief steward who has only been in the role for a month, had "already lost the confidence of the jockeys' room in the way he's policing the rules" as part of a lengthy critique.

"If I was a jockey looking to come to Hong Kong full-time, at the moment I wouldn't come because the way he's policing the rules would make me worry that, if I went there, I was going to be sitting on the sidelines all the time," Purton said.

The comments came after Purton was suspended for two meetings for "crowding a horse" at Sha Tin on Sunday, the ninth ban handed out in Van Gestel's six meetings in charge.

"Whilst the club respects the right of all individuals to express an opinion, you must appreciate that public statements could bring yourself, and the name, image and reputation of the club into disrepute and may also affect the integrity of horse racing conducted by the club," the HKJC said in a statement.

"There may be occasions when you do not agree with policies, decisions or actions of the club, the stewards, the stipendiary stewards, other club officials or employees. In these circumstances you are required to bring the matter to the attention of the club's management and to seek clarification or resolution prior to making or issuing any public statements or expressing your opinion to the media. The same requirement applies to any matters relating to the integrity of racing conducted by the club."

"In assessing penalty, the stewards considered a number of factors including his guilty plea, his conduct record, previous penalties for previous cases and the potential of the article to damage the reputation of the club and its officials. In all the circumstances, jockey Purton was fined a sum of $150,000."

In addition to the Van Gestel situation, Purton has also been charged with misconduct for directing improper comments at jockey Derek Leung outside the inquiry room after last weekend's Sha Tin meeting.

That has been adjourned until Sunday to allow Purton the opportunity to provide further evidence in defence of the charge.

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Zac Purton opens up about hefty fine ahead of his return to Australia

 Zac Purton opens up about hefty fine ahead of his return to Australia

Monday at 9:13am by Trenton Akers

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More trips abroad are on the cards for global superstar Zac Purton as the champion jockey prepares for his first trip back to Australia since 2018 on Saturday.

The Hong Kong-based Purton will jet into Sydney on Friday to ride Artorius in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, Communist in the Randwick Guineas and King's Gambit in the Todman and he says a recent breakthrough could open up more doors.

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The usually stringent Hong Kong Jockey Club rarely allows their retained riders to travel abroad, but after significant lobbying and the inability to attract big names of late, Purton says the tide is turning.

"The club is going to be more flexible going forward in allowing me to ride where I want," Purton said.

"They want me to be able to ride around a bit, which suits me great, I'm happy to travel around for the right horse.

"I'm open to any opportunities going forward and it might become a more regular thing."

Purton made headlines last week for his stinging attack on new chief steward Marc van Gestel following a rare suspension, where he claimed the leading stipe had already "lost the confidence of the jockeys" in an explosive story printed in the South China Morning Post.

Speaking to News Corp however, Purton admits he deserved the $150,000 HKD ($28,000 AUD) fine that came days later.

"I expected to get one, that was fair," he said.

"I think I got what I deserved."

While he does not regularly watch Australian racing, Purton says he pays special attention to big races, and is keen to extract the most out of Group 1 winner Artorius on Saturday.

"He has been a very consistent horse, hopefully we can get a decent result out of him," he said.

"With social media these days, I keep up to date with the racing there and when the bigger races are around, I'm always watching what's happening."

After 16 years in Hong Kong and five lucrative jockeys' premierships, speculation continues to swirl over his future in the Asian racing mecca.

Purton concedes he is unsure what the future holds, but is determined to break Joao Moreira's record of 170 wins in a season.

With 99 winners next to his name, he remains on track to better the mark, but says the recent arrival of fellow Australian Hugh Bowman has dried up some of his options.

"I'm treading water a little bit at the moment, through winter I just lost a little bit of momentum," he said.

"A few of the stables I was riding for just cooled off a bit and in the same time Karis (Teetan) has come back and Hughie (Bowman) has arrived, there are more options (for owners) now."

Artorius is a $3.50 second favourite on Saturday, while Communist is considered a $21 chance in the Randwick Guineas.

Deemed that I am lucky and fortunate. Every voyage I made as the Owner's representative I was given the Owner's Cabin.

Deemed that I am lucky and fortunate. Every voyage I made as the Owner's representative I was given the Owner's Cabin.
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Happy New Year 2023 One and All

Every day Is A New Chapter

Everything in nature is governed by cycles. Every morning we wake up in a different body with a different mind. We are not the same person that we were yesterday, the day before and tomorrow. What happens today will differ from that yesterday, the day before and tomorrow and nothing stays the same in this world

Everything changes and nothing stands still. Everything flows and nothing stays. Everything flows and nothing abides. Everything gives way and nothing stays fixed. Everything flows; nothing remains. All is flux, nothing is stationary. All is flux, nothing stays still. All flows, nothing stays.

You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you. You cannot step twice into the same stream. For as you are stepping in, other waters are ever flowing on to you. You cannot step twice into the same river. You cannot step into the same river twice. It is impossible to step into the same river twice. No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.

You could not step twice into the same river. All entities move and nothing remains still.

Gentlemen (ladies too) It doesn't matter who we were a decade ago, a year ago, or even yesterday... what matters is who we are today and will be tomorrow!

Every race is unique unto itself, once run never to be run again in the same manner. Each race has its individual merits, and each race is a different puzzle.

Nothing is absolute. All things are subjective.

In life there is nothing much we can shout about. Yes, indeed the universe doesn't owe you anything at all. Not unless you are clueless, gullible, intoxicated or have yet to recover from your hangovers, brain-dead or a biggest idiot.

The universe in this incarnation most prefers to humiliate those who remain smug or who appear to be telling it what to do and when to do it.

In running business (even selling kacang puteh) and life, there are no shortcuts. It's survival of the fittest. And before you could say Jack Robinson, your entire harvests, bankrolls, profits, lifeline and even your reserves can be wiped out by Force majeure, Covid-19, Hazards, perils, risk, disease, drought, flood, high rental, greed or even unforeseen circumstances.

Happy New Year One And All - 2023

Every day Is A New Chapter

Everything in nature is governed by cycles. Every morning we wake up in a different body with a different mind. We are not the same person that we were yesterday, the day before and tomorrow. What happens today will differ from that yesterday, the day before and tomorrow and nothing stays the same in this world.

Everything changes and nothing stands still. Everything flows and nothing stays. Everything flows and nothing abides. Everything gives way and nothing stays fixed. Everything flows; nothing remains. All is flux, nothing is stationary. All is flux, nothing stays still. All flows, nothing stays.

You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you. You cannot step twice into the same stream. For as you are stepping in, other waters are ever flowing on to you. You cannot step twice into the same river. You cannot step into the same river twice. It is impossible to step into the same river twice. No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.

You could not step twice into the same river. All entities move and nothing remains still.

Gentlemen (ladies too) It doesn't matter who we were a decade ago, a year ago, or even yesterday... what matters is who we are today and will be tomorrow!

Every race is unique unto itself, once run never to be run again in the same manner. Each race has its individual merits, and each race is a different puzzle.

Nothing is absolute. All things are subjective.

In life there is nothing much we can shout about. Yes, indeed the universe doesn't owe you anything at all. Not unless you are clueless, gullible, intoxicated or have yet to recover from your hangovers, brain-dead or a biggest idiot.

The universe in this incarnation most prefers to humiliate those who remain smug or who appear to be telling it what to do and when to do it.

In running business (even selling kacang puteh) and life, there are no shortcuts. It's survival of the fittest. And before you could say Jack Robinson, your entire harvests, bankrolls, profits, lifeline and even your reserves can be wiped out by Force majeure, Covid-19, Hazards, perils, risk, disease, drought, flood, high rental, greed or even unforeseen circumstances.