ETHAN BROWN AND ZAC PURTON ON A FLY-IN, FLY OUT MISSION FOR THE DOOMBEN 10 000

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Ethan Brown and Zac Purton will both make their way from Hong Kong to Doomben this week to ride in the Group 1 Doomben 10 000 which will be contested over 1200m at the city track on Saturday.

The background stories to the participation of these two riders have taken different paths.

The Brisbane Racing Club was proactive in seeking out Purton as a major drawcard for the Doomben 10 000 day, and, once Purton got the all-clear from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride overseas … as Brown had to do … it was all systems go, except for the no small detail of finding Purton a horse to ride in the nig race.

Purton’s resume, which has been well documented, is about as good as it gets. Now closing on 2000 career wins in Hong Kong … just stretching out a record he already holds … and soon to be crowned Hong Kong’s Premiership winning jockey for the ninth time, Purton’s prowess in the saddle is clear for all to see … but, interestingly enough, he wasn’t snapped up immediately for a big race ride.

In fact, it took a number of weeks before that matter was settled.

A phone call between trainer Kelly Schweida and Purton ended with Purton committing to ride the Schweida trained three-year-old prospect Grafterburners … a six-time winner from only thirteen starts, who has won over the track and distance he will face on Saturday with his most notable wins coming in the $500 000 QTIS Two-Year-Old Jewel and the $3 million Sunlight slot race … both at the Gold Coast.

Grafterburners has had one run since his Sunlight win on January 10. That came in an ‘away game’ at Randwick on April 11 over 1200m where he scored a highly creditable third place in the Group 2 Arrowfield Three-Year-Old Sprint when only beaten by 1.83 lengths by the more than useful Tempted, who had won the Group 1 Surround Stakes in the start before that.

That means that Grafterburners will come into the race with five weeks between runs and a new jockey aboard … the fourth different jockey in his last four starts after Cejay Graham, James McDonald and Damien Lane.

A new horse … a new challenge … there is no question that Purton is here to try and put one over the ‘locals’ on his old stopping ground where he did so well as a youngster when he took out the Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership when still an apprentice in the 2002/3 season.

Ethan Brown’s call-up and situation going into the race is very different to that of Purton.

He will get the leg-up aboard the Ciaron Maher trained Jimmysstar, a horse he could not be more familiar with having ridden the well performed, experienced son of Per Incanto in eleven of his last twelve starts where their results have included three Group 1 victories in the Oakleigh Plate, the All Aged and the C F Orr Stakes, all in 2025.

Having that understanding between horse and rider is and obvious advantage.

Jimmysstar last ran on April 18 when finishing third behind Beiwacht in the Group 1 All Aged over 1400m.

The six-year-old chestnut was third-up there.

His two starts before that, his only other runs this year, were in the William Reid at Caulfield (a race won by Jigsaw) and the TJ Smith at Randwick (won by Joliestar) … both Group 1 races in which he finished unplaced but not far back.

Jimmysstar will face the starter with four weeks between runs.

Both Brown and Purton will be riding at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday night. They will be in Brisbane for Saturday’s meeting and will be expected to be back in Hong Kong to fulfill their respective engagements at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Such is the life of the modern day, in demand jockey

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