Nov 15, 20123 min read

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A ZAC ATTACK, A HOBBIT AND GULLIVER TRAVEL INTO A BAR…

Zac Purton?

Dolph Lundgren?

With the Hong Kong International Races less than a month away, we thought we’d introduce or re-introduce everyone to some of Hong Kong’s racing heroes starting with Zac Purton, Little Timmy Clark and Tye Angland.

Zac Purton has been given the nickname of The Zac Attack by gawd knows who but it has stuck. In fact, WTF, the popular tapas and wine bar in Lower Elgin Street, Soho, introduced a Zac Attack shooter in his honor. Adrenaline, the revamped club at Happy Valley racecourse has followed suit and introduced their own Zac Attack. Let’s just say that both shooters can fry your brains and blow your mind.

On the track, The Zac Attack does his own shooting by riding with a confidence never really seen by the jockey before: Traffic jam? Getting hemmed in? Caught out wide? No problemo- and off he goes and mows them down and has won over an army of winners- some a little more dramatic than others and not too manly to make their feelings known.

Currently heading the Jockeys Premiership table and winning the Jockey Challenges on almost a weekly basis, The Zac Attack recently also won the plum ride on Hong Kong’s Horse Of The Year Ambitious Dragon, above, and which he can add to his CV along with his win on Little Bridge at Royal Ascot and being picked to represent Hong Kong in the upcoming Super Jockey Series in Japan.

Below, he sits down and talks and talks and talks about some of the quirks of riding in Hong Kong. Sadly, we didn’t have time to include his line about Dougie Whyte “getting too old”, but it’s this type of needling that is good for any sport. There has a certain Cassius Clay aka Mouth From Louisiana Lip kinda hype to it which is always good for a quote and gives racing the jolt it needs. And don’t worry: Dougie Whyte won’t take any of that lying down. He can give as good as he gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg73_Gzp0F4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBVUavPcagE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCcxKBnWirU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-4lw2k-1eQ

……………………………………………………………..

Meanwhile, there is Little Timmy Clark. Again, we don’t know who the hell gave him the nickname of “The Hobbit” but this Fredo of Hong Kong racing is proof that size doesn’t matter.

We have watched some of his rides and have been gobsmacked at his strength and determination in getting them home.

In touch with his feminine side, The Hobbit is known for his unique fashion sense, dance steps and needle point, all of which he has combined to create his own TinyTim Fashions, below, whereas his entrepreneurial spirit has him working on the world’s first horse racing theme park to be called TinyTim Land, also below.

Below, Little Timmy Clark talks about his riding style, his fashion sense, and the pressures of being The Hobbit and The Keeper Of The Ring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXamY9e1Txg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VQ16H_Jddk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFw8Q0Wl6nk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE551SRPStw

………………………………………………….

As for Tye Angland, no one has dared to give him a nickname as he is like Gulliver surrounded by Oompa Loompas.

With the former rodeo rider being the tallest rider in Hong Kong and, forgetting dwarfing most of the teeny weeny owners in Hong Kong in the winners enclosure, he also makes many of the horses he rides look like Shetland ponies. See what we mean?

Yes, he REALLY rides tall in the saddle and is one of the very best jockeys in town and somewhat under-utilized.

In his spare time, he rides his BMX and also with some mates, see below, models TinyTim Fashions.

Below, “Gulliver” talks about life in Hong Kong, Oompa Loompas, getting whacked by Little Timmy Clark in a race and what it’s like to ride in one of the most competitive racing environments in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpRs6ruY__o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8agdL7nprm0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71paKvyB3ho