Zac Purton has dethroned Joao Moreira to claim the 2017-18 jockeys’ championship on the final day of the Hong Kong season.

The Australian secured the title with a victory aboard Caspar Fownes’ Rise High in the eighth race at Sha Tin to give himself an unassailable lead.

Purton held a four-win edge over the Magic Man at the start of the day, but the Brazilian made it interesting as he took the opener with Cash Courier.

But neither hit the scoreboard for the following six events, putting the equation even further in Purton’s favour before he made a certainty of it with Rise High.

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It is Purton’s second title, having previously won in 2013-14 when he ended the reign of 13-time champion Douglas Whyte.

Moreira, who is now leaving Hong Kong to race in Japan, took the next three titles with ease before this season’s ding-dong contest.

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The Magic Man held a 15-win advantage after the meeting on April 15, but Purton has been in outstanding form since then, taking the lead on June 10 and holding onto it for good.