One of Australian sport’s biggest earners will ride the Everest favourite. Most people have never heard of jockey Zac Purton

Purton knows he’s in the lucky position of cycling in Hong Kong and even sits behind Ka Ying Rising, widely regarded as the best sprinter on the planet.

Should Ka Ying Rising win the Everest at Randwick on Saturday, Purton will earn 5 per cent of the $7 million first prize, equivalent to $350,000 for 70 seconds of work. Some NRL players earn this because they slave away all season long.

But unlike NRL players, Purton risks his life every time he goes to work. Because of the dangers that come with the profession, few people hold grudges against jockeys and the money they earn.

“I basically keep everything I’ve earned,” Purton said. “The money is great, but I came to Hong Kong to test myself against the best drivers in the world.

“I did that, then I fell in love with racing, I fell in love with the lifestyle, and then I just wanted to continue to be as successful as I could.

“I have now broken several records, including the record for most wins in a season, and the record for most wins ever ridden by a jockey in Hong Kong.

“You sit back and look at your finances and think to yourself: ‘I’ve done everything here. Is it time to go back to Australia?’

“But given the financial sacrifices you have to make by doing this, the smarter option was to stay in Hong Kong.

“I’m not thinking about myself, I’m thinking about my wife Nicole and our children [daughter Roxy, 11, and son Cash, eight]. “The more we help them move forward, the easier it will be for everyone.”

Purton had planned to retire at age 40. His body was aching from regular cycling and he was losing weight to maintain his weight, and he needed numerous painkillers for his hip.

Then his biggest rival João Moreira left Hong Kong and Purton found himself in even greater demand. It was hard to turn your back on him.

Then came Ka Ying Rising.

“I was in a lot of pain, especially in my hip, and I was actually overdoing it,” he said. “I had done what I wanted to do and was going to retire. But Ka Ying Rising came along. In fact, he kept me going. It’s a lot easier to wake up every day knowing you have a horse like him that you can go racing with.”

“I’m not sure how much longer I can keep riding. [Legendary Irish jockey] Mick Kinane retired with the retirement of Sea The Stars.

“I’ve come a little further than I thought. I won’t be riding when I’m five years old.”

“I’m enjoying it as much as I can.

“We are coming to Australia on Saturday and we would love to show everyone how good this horse is.

“If he’s at his best he should be good enough to win. Just one victory will be enough for us. Second or third place doesn’t cut it.”

Even in the twilight of his career, Purton still knows how to get the best out of his horses. He knows that Ka Ying Rising has made mistakes and has a terrible habit of getting on the “wrong foot”; This is when a horse advances with its left leg, not its right, when racing clockwise in Sydney. But he wouldn’t change it.

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Sydney-based James McDonald, widely regarded as the best on the planet and who will ride Joliestar on Everest, said of Purton: “Zac is a very aggressive jockey, relentless and incredibly tactically savvy. He’s as good as you are.”

Purton plans to eventually move the family back to Sydney. There is no appetite for breeding horses. The biggest dream is to enjoy a round of golf and one day hit par.

He snuck into the NSW Golf Club last week after trying Ka Ying Rising. His golf game needs work. At least his driving works.