Craig Kerry

October 29, 2026 — 6:13pm

Zac Purton is out to make up for lost opportunities in the Golden Eagle, rather than his defeat on Ka Ying Rising in the Everest , when he has his first ride in the $10 million race at Randwick.

Australia’s nine-time Hong Kong premiership winner was at Rosehill on Thursday to take the Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy through his paces in preparation for Saturday’s clash with star mare Sheza Alibi in the rich race for four-year-olds. Purton takes over from regular jockey James McDonald, who is riding at Flemington.

Zac Purton riding Autumn Boy on Thursday at Rosehill. KATE GERAGHTY

Purton’s previous chances to ride in the race, which he believed included 2023 winner Obamburumai, have been denied because the Golden Eagle did not meet the Hong Kong Jockey’s group 1 criteria when assessing requests from its jockeys to compete overseas.…