Opinion | Purton has put absolutely everything on the line ... but it’s unlikely to be enough

After putting everything into an exhausting and ultimately unsuccessful challenge to Douglas Whyte’s supremacy in 2009-10, legend has it that Brett Prebble simply said “never again.” Meaning, never again would he subject himself to the mental, emotional and physical rigours of entering into hand-to-hand combat with the Durban Demon.

As the latest challenger to Whyte’s crown, Zac Purton, lay at home this week, in excruciating pain as he recovered from a bout of kidney stones, you wonder if at some stage he reflected upon similar sentiments.

Now, racing isn’t a contact sport in the classic mano-a-mano sense and we are not suggesting Whyte put Purton in hospital – he is not that ruthless. But it’s not a stretch to surmise Purton’s recent ailments have at least been exacerbated by pushing himself to his limits in his pursuit of a rider that at times seems more relentless machine than he is man.

In his own quiet and determined way, Whyte is an incomparably single-minded and savage competitor – and if you didn’t know that already, yesterday’s revelations of his strategy surrounding the ride on Triumphant Jewel were telling.

Triumphant Jewel’s win in the first race of the day was essentially worth double points in the jockeys’ championship – as it was a ride meant for Purton. One more win for Whyte and one less for his rival. It carried some psychological bonus points, too, – it was Whyte’s first ride since he was catapulted through the air in the horror five-horse fall at Happy Valley last Wednesday and knocked senseless. Talk about making a statement. Whyte finished the day 11 wins clear with five meetings remaining.