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

Bravehearts
8.40 Sha Tin
2pts win

Beauty Waves
9.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Another World
10.50 Sha Tin
2pts win

Mark Newnham can progress the talented Bravehearts a step closer to the local staying elite with victory in the Class 2 Hong Kong Lions Cup (8.40), over 1m1f, on an interesting ten-race card at Sha Tin.

Newnham has taken full advantage of the Argentinian import’s attractive handicap mark by winning three races this season, with his recent fifth against a number of Derby contenders also a noteworthy effort.

Bravehearts finished unplaced in nine runs for previous trainer Jamie Richards but in fairness to the New Zealander, betting told the story. In those runs, he was as big as 158-1 and never shorter than 34-1.  Not much was expected.

Acclimatisation was an obvious factor, but regardless of the reason, Newnham took on a horse rated 19lb lower than he had been on arrival. He is currently on the same 82 rating as two years ago.

And that is a nice place to be with a previous winner of Argentina’s famous Group 1 1m4f Carlos Pellegrini, which the son of Cityscape achieved as a three-year-old on only his sixth start. There is potential to be exploited as he stretches out over longer trips.

Cityscape, the former Roger Charlton-trained miler who launched James Doyle into the big time, also has a local connection. He was second in the Hong Kong Mile but finished out with the washing in a Champions Mile. The danger to Bravehearts is another South American, Winning Dragon.

There are five races on dirt as the turf is given some respite before FWD Champions Day. Beauty Waves is selected to win one of them, the Class 2 6f handicap (9.10), in which his good all-weather form in Ireland should assist him. He won a juvenile maiden at Dundalk.

The next best is a true dirt specialist in Capital Delight, who has won four races over course and distance. The classy Bottomuptogether must be respected but has no previous racing experience on the surface.

Zac Purton rides in nine of the ten races and the best of his chances comes in the finale, the Benno Yung-trained Another World in the Class 3 7f handicap (10.50). The four-year-old is aiming for his fourth win of the campaign.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.10
2 Precision Goal
3 Fashion Legend

8.40
5 Winning Dragon
9 Bravehearts

9.10
2 Beauty Waves
3 Capital Delight

9.40
1 Gummy Gummy
3 Must Go

10.15
2 Triumphant More
4 Pakistan Legacy

10.50
2 Another World
11 South Star

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 5.45am

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