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

Viva Chaleur
8.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Cordyceps Six
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Nordic Dragon
9.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Hugh Bowman can make the most of a new booking for the exciting Viva Chaleur in the Class 3 mile handicap (8.05) on a potentially informative 11-race card at Sha Tin on Sunday.

This is a day when a number of prospects for Hong Kong’s lucrative Four-Year-Old Classic Series step up a gear as the first leg, the Mile, is only three weeks away. The other legs are the 1m1f Cup on February 26 and the 1m2f Derby on March 19.

Viva Chaleur was unlucky on his last start when caught in traffic before flying home late from the rear for an eye-catching fourth in a strong Class 2 7f handicap.

This time, he drops a grade in a race restricted to his own age, and Bowman is the lucky jockey Caspar Fownes has called on to take over from Christophe Lemaire, who was on a fleeting visit from Japan when aboard last time.

Viva Chaleur would not have been a cheap purchase. The son of Wootton Bassett is still a colt and was formerly trained by Andre Fabre for the Coolmore partnership. Racing as Trident, he was runner-up to Perfect Power in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville.

At three, he chased home Modern Games in the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on his last run before being sold to Hong Kong, where he still has a bright future. He is a confident selection, though Sweet Encounter and the filly Bon’s A Pearla are both solid rivals and will stretch him.

The unbeaten Nordic Dragon recorded both of his wins at Happy Valley but he is well equipped for his graduation to the big track. He lines up in the Class 3 7f handicap (9.10), which looks an easier option to Viva Chaleur’s heat. The consistent Amazing Victory is his danger.

Alexis Badel returns after seven weeks on the sidelines through injury and has five decent rides, headed by Cordyceps Six in the Group 3 5f Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (8.35), in which seven of those beaten in last month’s Hong Kong Sprint reappear.

Cordyceps Six finished seventh from a terrible draw (13) behind stablemate Wellington in the Group 1 and this time must contend with gate one, a dreaded draw on the straight course. However, there is plenty of speed, which could set it up nicely for a closer, which he is. Courier Wonder and Sky Field are next best.