Hong Kong racing: Jim McGrath with three top tips for Sunday's card at Sha Tin

Nicconi Express
7.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Good Omen
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

California Concord
10.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Trainer John Size may have put his championship aspirations on hold, but that is not to say he won't have a few decent winners before the end of the Hong Kong season next month.

Size, an 11-times title-holder, trails leader Ricky PF Yiu by 18 winners and, when in that position, it is often best to keep a few low in the handicap for next season. But you sense Nicconi Express, who he saddles in the Class 2 mile handicap (7.00) at Sha Tin, is not in that category.

Nicconi Express arrived with an unbeaten record (2-2 in Queensland) and has already won two races locally, but Size has adopted a 'kid gloves' approach with the lightly raced five-year-old having described him as a delicate sort.

The ploy of sending horses to the Conghua training centre in China has worked wonders for other members of his stable and there is every chance the new surroundings will have been as beneficial as a mid-season holiday for Nicconi Express, who enjoyed a few weeks there recently.

With Joao Moreira aboard for the first time in 16 months, it is a positive pointer. A fresh horse at this late stage of the season is often a huge advantage and he is set to capitalise this time. Stablemate Time To Celebrate, with apprentice KH Alfie Chan claiming 7lb, is the danger in a trappy race.

Moreira, who is three behind Zac Purton in their title battle (129-126), has a full book of 11 rides, while curiously, the Australian has only six mounts. It is truly shaping as another cliffhanger.

Two jockeys always capable of stealing the spotlight from the big two are Antoine Hamelin and Karis Teetan, who both have some excellent rides on this diverse card, which also features three races on dirt.

Hamelin, who continues to impress with his tactical flair, can put it to good use on the Douglas Whyte-trained Good Omen in the Class 3 1m1f handicap (8.35), which he can dominate from the start.

Good Omen won five in Britain before export and, although only two from 27 in Hong Kong and without a win for 15 months, the gelding has dropped 18lb in the handicap since the start of the season and that spells danger.

Apprentice Chan, who rides Above, is certain to be encouraged to make full use of his claim by trainer John Moore and his tactics are likely to greatly influence the outcome.

Tony Cruz, who is chipping away at a six-win deficit in the trainers' title race, has excellent prospects with California Concord in the Stevenson Cup, a Class 3 6f sprint handicap (10.10).

Teetan, another with a full book of mounts, gives everything a ride which was never more obvious than when he won on the Fastnet Rock gelding on his last start. A 5lb hike in the handicap is reasonable and he can go in again.

Bets can be placed into HK pools with Ladbrokes, Coral and the Tote

TOTE PLACEPOT

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

Sha Tin card

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