Zac Purton estimates he could be out of action for as long as six weeks following a three-horse fall at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday that left him with multiple injuries.
Providing an update on his condition, Purton told media that he will miss his upcoming ride on sprint star Ka Ying Rising as he’s scheduled for toe surgery later in the day.
An ankle injury sustained in the fall also threatens to extend his time on the sidelines.
“The big toe on my left foot is at a right angle, so it needs to be realigned with a pin or screw to keep it straight, so it’s going to take some time,” Purton said.
While the extent of ligament damage to his ankle is still being assessed, Purton fears it could be up to six weeks before he’s fit to return to racing.
“I can’t do anything for four weeks. The pins have to stay in there until they can come out, so that will restrict me a bit,” he explained.
“I’ve got some ligament damage in that left ankle as well, and I am not sure how long it will take to heal, but they are pretty confident it is not too bad.
“So, it’s four weeks until I can do anything and a couple more weeks to get fit.”
Hong Kong’s leading jockey is keen to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible in the hope of an earlier return, though he’s disappointed to miss upcoming rides on Ka Ying Rising, Galaxy Patch, and Packing Angel.
Purton’s fall occurred in Race 9 when Legend St Paul’s, ridden by Angus Chung, broke down in the home straight during the Class 3 Handicap (1800m), falling into the path of Silvery Breeze under Purton and Lupo Solitario, ridden by Keith Yeung.
Both Chung and Yeung were also hospitalised overnight.
Ka Ying Rising is scheduled to race next on February 23, with Karis Teetan reportedly on standby after having partnered the sprinter earlier in his career.
Yeung sustained bruising to his upper thigh, while Chung suffered bruising to his face and upper body.
Both riders, along with Purton and Vincent Ho—who was involved in an earlier fall on the same program—have been ruled out of Wednesday’s Sha Tin meeting on the all-weather track.
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