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

Pins Prince
7.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Cordyceps Six
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Beauty Joy
9.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Trainer Richard Gibson, who has long been planning a successful December, can start the ball rolling by landing the Class 3 handicap (8.35) down Sha Tin's straight 5f course with the promising Cordyceps Six.

This is international week, and Gibson's main objective is getting his stable star Wellington into the winner's enclosure in the highly competitive Hong Kong Sprint next weekend. The sprinter's encouraging recent trial on the dirt came as a timely morale boost.

Cordyceps Six has already established a reputation as a giant killer. He demoralised 1-10 favourite Nervous Witness over course and distance four weeks ago and although it was a shock to most, it was certainly no fluke.

The Australian-bred three-year-old is 3-6 and starting to climb through the ranks. He won his first race at 108-1, and he has never won at odds less than 7-1, though that trend is now likely to end.

Drawn on the favoured stands' rail (gate 14), Cordyceps Six should be close all the way for 3lb claimer Jerry Chau, and he has most to fear from two drawn on the opposite side of the track, namely Super Fortune (6) and Seizing The Moment (2).

There is nothing like a change of stable to inspire the 'new' trainer to try everything for a first-time victory, which appears to be the case with the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Joy in the Class 3 7f handicap (9.45).

Beauty Joy was unbeaten in four starts in west Australia before joining David Hayes, for whom he was unplaced in his only two outings in Hong Kong. He has not run for ten months, but since joining Cruz has impressed in three barrier trials, with Zac Purton ever-present in the saddle.

Another in the 'Beauty' ownership, All Beauty, also has an excellent chance if able to run a strong 7f, which must be feasible if he is held up off the pace. He had a particularly hard run last time, and will relish his light weight here.

There are six races on the dirt and only four on the grass in order to keep the turf fresh for the International Races next weekend. Oddly enough, Flying On The Turf (7.00) looks the best selection on the dirt.

Finally, Joao Moreira and John Size can combine for another win with the progressive Pins Prince in the Class 4 7f handicap (7.35). The extra furlong will suit perfectly.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

7.00
1 Pegasus Glory
3 Flying On The Turf

7.35
2 Pins Prince
7 Nimble Nimbus

8.05
1 Will Power
7 Czarson

8.35
2 Cordyceps Six
11 Super Fortune

9.10
1 Ultra Express
6 King's Capital

9.45
2 Beauty Joy
10 All Beauty

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 5.00am.

Sha Tin Sunday card

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