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âOn the drinkâ: Purton returns serve after âsissyâ jibe
Andrew Slevison ⹠ October 23rd, 2025 1:44 pm
Zac Purton has returned serve after Maureen Haggas flamed him for his ride on Lake Forest at Randwick on the weekend.
Haggas, the wife of champion British trainer William Haggas, suggested Purton rode Lake Forest like a âbig sissyâ, saying she was âhorrifiedâ and âappalledâ by his efforts.
Purton, who rode Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising to victory in the $20 million Everest earlier in the day, has fired back with a few jibes of his own.
âShe must have been on the drink, she must have had a bad day at the races,â laughed Purton on SENTrack & RSNâs Giddy Up.
âI didnât speak to her after the race, her and Willie werenât down there. Obviously they watched it from up there and sheâs got her opinion which sheâs entitled to.
âBut I thank her for her advice. I havenât had time to watch the replay yet because Iâve been too busy watching replays of myself winning the $20 million Everest!â
Did Purton think it was a bad ride on Lake Forest?
âI followed Ceolwulf who went on to win the race, so I thought he was not too bad a horse to be following,â Purton added.
âHe put seven lengths on me. As soon as they quickened my horse just went up and down in the one spot. He gave me no response at all.
âIâm a little bit bemused at her take on the race, but sheâs entitled to that, no problem. Where she went a little bit too far was by dragging James McDonald into it as well.
âHeâs currently the worldâs best jockey and she said we both gave our rides (McDonald on Sam Hawkens) âreally shockingly awful ridesâ.
âSheâs probably had a day on the drink.â
Purton couldnât quite work out why Maureen got stuck into him, especially after all the warm welcomes her husband William has bene afforded whenever he has a horse in Australia.
âThe most disappointing part is that every time William Haggas has brought a horse to Australia we have championed him, weâve been very happy for his success, weâve welcomed him down, weâve rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like heâs loved in Australia - and then they have one bad day and she falls off the rocking horse,â he said firmly.
âItâs probably a bit much.â
