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

War Of Courage
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Uncle Steve
9.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Taking Aim
10.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Douglas Whyte has his stable back in sparkling form following a mid-season pause that enabled the first-season trainer to regroup, with the result that he has sent out winners at five of the last six meetings in Hong Kong.

Uncle Steve, who went into all notebooks with an eyecatching third on his last start, is poised to add to Whyte's impressive first-season tally of 36 wins when he lines up in Sunday's Class 2 1m1f handicap (9.35) at Sha Tin.

The most enduring figures in racing are inevitably hard-bitten but Whyte admits to being sentimental when it comes Uncle Steve, who was his last mount in a spectacularly successful riding career – he finished fourth in that Sha Tin handicap 15 months ago – and he was one of the first horses to join his yard when he started training.

To add further to the story, Uncle Steve won first time up for his new trainer in October. Three poor runs followed but the gelding was found to be battling a suspensory issue, which he has apparently overcome.

His last start third behind stablemate General's Delight over a mile at Sha Tin was evidence that he is back in form, and now he makes the step up to 1m1f, which he should handle comfortably.

He is out of a mare by stamina influence Bering, a Prix du Jockey-Club winner who finished to second to Dancing Brave in the 1986 Arc.

Chad Schofield, fifth on the jockeys' list, is booked to partner Uncle Steve for the first time, and he can expect strong opposition in a race with great depth. Super Oasis, Enrichment, Butterfield and Amazing Beats should all be considered for multiples.

The booking of Zac Purton for Super Oasis, coupled with the transfer of this Auckland Guineas winner from Frankie F C Lor to Ricky P F Yiu, are significant factors, as too is the fitting of blinkers for the first time.

Earlier on the card, Schofield also has excellent prospects aboard War Of Courage in the Class 3 5f handicap sprint (8.35), in which the gelding has drawn 14, on the favoured stands' rail. California Archer is the danger.

War Of Courage is two from six and has never finished worse than third. He has great early speed, which ensures he will be in the firing line all the way, and he is certain to relish the drop back in trip from 6f.

He is a son of the versatile Declaration Of War, who also sired Vow And Declare, last year's 2m Melbourne Cup winner.

Later, Whyte will saddle the useful Taking Aim for the first time in the Class 3 7f handicap (10.10), having taken delivery of the gelding from John Moore, who is due to leave the Hong Kong training ranks in July.

Both of Taking Aim's wins have been over course and distance and his rating is 1lb lower than his last winning mark last season. With Purton aboard, there is reason to be optimistic.

Whyte can also land the finale, the Class 3 6f handicap sprint (10.45) with talented Inner Flame, another tipped to return to winning form.

TOTE PLACEPOT

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

Sha Tin card

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