HK expert Andrew Hawkins with top Placepot advice for Sunday's card at Sha Tin

Sunday's Placepot at Sha Tin appears a difficult sequence and it may be worth relying on unexposed three-year-old Galactic (8.35) for trainer Douglas Whyte and jockey Joao Moreira.

The son of Australian sire Deep Field has had two starts in Hong Kong, finishing off well enough for fifth on his debut before racing strongly on the speed for third second time up. That came from an awkward outside gate, which left Moreira with few options.

Barrier six should allow Moreira more freedom and Galactic looks a leading player here.

Two of the Placepot legs, the 8.00 and the 10.10, are on the Sha Tin dirt, which is a notoriously tricky surface. Try to catch the 6.00 to get an idea for how the track may play later on.

Both dirt races in the Placepot look set to be fast-run affairs and it can be difficult to make up ground. It may be worth hedging to get through the two dirt legs.

In the 8.00, Dollar Reward can chase the speed and looks capable of bouncing back, while Star Superior is worth including at odds too. The other to include is Excel Delight, who keeps running well and looks a place lock.

The 10.10 revolves around the consistent Utopia Life, who rarely misses the placings, and the Japanese import Elite Patch, who should enjoy the run of the race midfield.

The day's feature, the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup, comes up before the Placepot at 6.30. It is the only mile-and-a-half handicap in Hong Kong and features three Derby winners from across the world – Grand Prix de Paris winner Helene Charisma, Queensland Derby victor Eagle Way and South Australian Derby conqueror Helene Leadingstar.

In what shapes as a tactical race, Helene Leadingstar can make it three in a row.

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 6 (leg 1): 1, 4, 8
Race 7 (leg 2): 5
Race 8 (leg 3): 3, 5
Race 9 (leg 4): 4, 7, 14
Race 10 (leg 5): 1, 2
Race 11 (leg 6): 6, 10

Sha Tin card

Bet through the Tote

Place bets on international races with the Racing Post app. Log in to your bookmaker accounts in the Accounts tab in the bottom right and then click cards to view the racecards