Zac Purton has responded to the stunning critique from Maureen Haggas of his ride on Lake Forest at Randwick on Saturday.

Overnight on Thursday, Haggas launched a broadside on Racing TV claiming Purton ‘just sat there like a big sissy’ on the horse trained by her husband, Willam, in the G1 King Charles III Stakes.

READ: Haggas slams Zac Purton ride

That was one of a number of jabs in a ferocious assessment of Purton’s work in the mile feature, and the Australian hoop responded when talking to SEN/RSN on Thursday morning.

“She must’ve been on the drink. She must’ve had a bad day at the races,” said Purton, who didn’t sound overly perturbed by the feedback.

“I didn’t speak to her after the race, her and Willie weren’t down there (Sydney). Obviously they watched it from up there (UK).

“She’s got her opinion which she’s entitled to, and I thank her for her advice but I haven’t had time to watch the replay yet because I’ve been too busy watching replays of myself winning the $20m Everest!

“I followed Ceolwulf who went on to win the race, and I thought he’s not too bad a horse to be following and he put 7L on me.

“As soon as they quickened, my horse went up and down in the one spot, gave me no response at all.

“I’m a bit bemused at her take on the race, but she’s entitled to that – no problem.

“Where she probably went a bit too far was dragging James McDonald into it – currently the world’s best jockey, leading the world’s best jockey standings, and she said we both gave our rides ‘really shockingly awful rides’.

“She’s probably had a day on the drink.”

“She must’ve been on the drink!”

Zac Purton does not miss the mark in his response to Maureen Haggas’ comments overnight in the UK 💥 pic.twitter.com/fY6FzIwuBI

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 23, 2025

Purton went on to point out the Australian hospitality has overall been welcoming of the Haggas camp, that has more often than not snared the big cash in Sydney, indicating it’s a bit rich to go nuclear in the other direction when it doesn’t quite pan out for them: “They have one bad day and she falls off the rocking horse.”