Zac Purton will ride Sagacious Life in next month’s Classic Mile after narrowing down an enviable shortlist that included the likes of Invincible Ibis, Little Paradise, Beauty Bolt and Top Dragon.

By his own admission, this could be one of the most competitive opening legs of the four-year-old series in recent years and it was a decision that has given Purton a big headache over the last few months.

But the champion jockey has ultimately picked the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained Brazilian import, who was a Group One winner on those shores in 2024.

Since moving to Hong Kong, he has won two of his three starts, including a huge performance to win carrying 135lb in the Class Two Leighton Handicap (1,600m) last month, where he beat Top Dragon into third.

That weight-carrying exhibition was enough to convince Purton, who will look to finally etch his name on the Classic Mile honour roll.

“At the end of the day, Sagacious Life has got the highest rating and when you come into a set-weight race that plays a certain role, although the four-year-olds at this time of year are all untapped,” said Purton.

“You don’t know where the ceiling is, so it’s not the be-all and end-all, but he’s come in and he’s run three really good races, and he won over the track and distance in a decent Class Two, carrying top weight of 135.

“He’s only 1,050lb, so he’s not a big horse and I thought to carry that amount of weight in that class and then come back to a set-weight race against the four-year-olds would hold him in good stead.”

The eight-time champion jockey has ridden all of the main contenders to victory at some stage this season, including the talking horse for many, Mark Newnham’s Invincible Ibis.

The likes of Little Paradise and Top Dragon were also towards the top of Purton’s shortlist and it was not a decision he took lightly, with huge positives for all the contenders.

“You could make a case for all the horses – Invincible Ibis continues to improve at every run. He also lacks a little bit of confidence, but he’s growing in confidence all the time,” said Purton.

“He relaxes really well and he’s run the distance. There’s a lot of positives there for him as well. Little Paradise has been going exceptionally well. His win on the weekend was outstanding – he beat a really strong field and ran a good time.

“Top Dragon was unlucky the other day against Sagacious Life, you can’t dismiss him, and Beauty Bolt is as honest as they come. He keeps fronting up every start and was just touched off on Sunday.”

Although it has been an embarrassment of riches for Purton to choose from, it comes with the caveat of facing up to the possibility that he might make the wrong decision.

That is something Purton has made peace with, however, as we head towards one of the most open Classic Miles for a long time.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to pick one out of seven and if any one of the other six win, then I’ve made the wrong decision,” said Purton.

“It’s a really tough decision because I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of the owners of the horses I’ve been riding and the trainers as well and they’ve given me the opportunity to ride those horses.

“It’s been a unique year that every one of the horses has kept fronting up and kept running well and put themselves in a position to run in the race and not just run in it, but be a leading chance in it as well.”

Hugh Bowman will retain the ride on Invincible Ibis after guiding him to victory on Sunday, while Vincent Ho Chak-yiu has picked up the ride on Little Paradise.