Former Queensland jockey Zac Purton continues his climb up the Hong Kong Jockey Club jockey’s table with a winning treble at Happy Valley last night.

Purton moved into third spot with 24 wins for the season, one win behind fellow Australian Brett Prebble, but both boys are along way behind international Douglas Whyte who is posted on 49.

Purton who learnt his trade in Queensland before heading to Sydney and Hong Kong, got away to an early start by taking out the first race of the night on Industrial Legend in the Yau Tong Handicap (1800m) for trainer Dennis Yip.

Trainer Ricky Yiu provided Purton’s second winner for the night with Wind Damper in the Sau Mau Ping Handicap (1200m) then followed up with Charity Spirit in the Victoria Racing Club Trophy over 1000m for  Danny Shum.

All of  Purton’s wins were close finishes with the last of the night Charity Spirit being the longest margin, a neck.

“All three of them, I thought they were going to win easily and it ended up being a struggle,” Purton said.

Purton is hoping his recent success will continue into Saturday when he partners Little Bridge in the Group I Chairman’s Sprint Trophy (1200m) at Sha Tin.

Fellow Australian Tim Clark continues to ride winners and was successful on Ride On The Fire in the Ngau Tau Kok Handicap (1000m) for trainer Caspar Fownes taking his tally for the season to 11.

Darren Beadman is the other Australian rider in the top ten jockeys list and is currently equal sixth with Matthew Chadwick.