Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Sha Tin on Sunday

Shamus Storm
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Bravehearts
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

The Boom Box
10.50 Sha Tin
2pts win

Staying is the name of the game in the Group 3 1m4f Queen Mother Memorial Cup (9.05) at Sha Tin on Sunday, and few are better qualified in this specialist category than the Argentinian import Bravehearts, who has been laid out for the race. 

The five-year-old won three from six in his native country, including the famous Grade 1 1m4f Carlos Pelligrini, but he has never run over the distance in 15 starts in Hong Kong. 

Trainer Mark Newnham gave him a prep for this two weeks ago, but the gelding blew the start and found himself bottled up between runners and a long way off the pace in the first half of the race. He ran home strongly for sixth, beaten two and three-quarter lengths, with Bundle Award (fourth) ahead of him, but Winning Dragon (seventh), Five G Patch (eighth) and La City Blanche (11th) behind him. They all meet again here. 

This trip, considered an extreme distance in Hong Kong (where the emphasis is on sprinter-milers), will be the deciding factor, and this is Bravehearts' trump card. The worry is a possible lack of pace, of which his rider Matthew Poon will be aware. 

Bundle Award is classy but no certainty to see out the trip, while chief danger Winning Dragon was a Classic winner in Chile over this distance. The other key factor is that the Queen Mother Memorial is a handicap and Bravehearts receives weight all round from his rivals. 

Zac Purton has his customary book of attractive rides, the best of them being The Boom Box in the finale, the Class 3 7f handicap (10.50). 

The gelding was hampered in the closing stages on his most recent outing over course and distance, but finished a close third and gets his chance to atone here. 

Yuen Long Elite trialled impressively on the dirt at Sha Tin two weeks ago and also has strong claims. He should be taken in a forecast with The Boom Box, as the pair stand out from their opposition.

Purton also has a great winning chance aboard the David Hayes-trained Shamus Storm in the Class 4 7f handicap (8.35). The three-year-old was given a lot to do when dropped out last time and a better draw in gate four and a change of rider could see different tactics employed.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.00
2 Gallant Epoch
8 Happy Universe

8.35
3 Mr Cool
6 Shamus Storm

9.05
4 Bundle Award
6 Bravehearts

9.40
4 Max Que
5 Dazzling Fit

10.15
2 Family Jewel
9 Gold Master

10.50
2 The Boom Box
9 Yuen Long Elite

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 5.30am

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