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š» IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE š»
āOn the drinkā: Purton returns serve after āsissyā jibe
Andrew SlevisonĀ ā¢ Ā 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 ābig sissyā, saying she was āhorrifiedā and āappalledā 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.
āShe must have been on the drink, she must have had a bad day at the races,ā laughed Purton on SENTrack & RSNās Giddy Up.
āI didnāt speak to her after the race, her and Willie werenāt down there. Obviously they watched it from up there and sheās got her opinion which sheās entitled to.
āBut I thank her for her advice. I havenāt had time to watch the replay yet because Iāve been too busy watching replays of myself winning the $20 million Everest!ā
Did Purton think it was a bad ride on Lake Forest?
āI followed Ceolwulf who went on to win the race, so I thought he was not too bad a horse to be following,ā Purton added.
āHe 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.
āIām a little bit bemused at her take on the race, but sheās entitled to that, no problem. Where she went a little bit too far was by dragging James McDonald into it as well.
āHeās currently the worldās best jockey and she said we both gave our rides (McDonald on Sam Hawkens) āreally shockingly awful ridesā.
āSheās probably had a day on the drink.ā
Purton couldnāt 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.
āThe most disappointing part is that every time William Haggas has brought a horse to Australia we have championed him, weāve been very happy for his success, weāve welcomed him down, weāve rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like heās loved in Australia - and then they have one bad day and she falls off the rocking horse,ā he said firmly.
āItās probably a bit much.ā
