Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three fancies for Sha Tin on Saturday

El Valiente
8.00 Sha Tin (Sat)
2pts win

Gallant Legacy
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Kurpany
10.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Five of the ten races at Sha Tin on Saturday will be run on the all-weather surface, and as ever, it pays to seek out track specialists.

There could be an exception to this rule, however, in the case of Kurpany, who will debut on the 'Hong Kong dirt' – as the locals like to call it – in the Class 2 6f sprint handicap (10.10), one of the highlights on the mixed card.

Kurpany is three from ten in Hong Kong after being bought out of the stable of Andy Slattery following an easy win in a Tipperary maiden two years ago. All three local wins have come at Happy Valley but the four-year-old has been crying out for a return to the bigger track.

It is a challenge racing on dirt for the first time in such a high grade, so Caspar Fownes sought reassurance when he barrier-trialled Kurpany on the all-weather last week — and clearly he was satisfied.

With Joao Moreira aboard, Kurpany was kept wide throughout but came home in front in the confidence-boosting spin. For once, the wide draw (12 of 12) could be to his advantage, enabling him to settle wide off the pace and avoiding the kickback.

His strong opposition is headed by dirt specialists Red Desert and Will Power, the last-named being assisted by Jerry Chau’s handy 7lb claim.

There are two other dirt races to get involved in, the first a Class 4 handicap (8.00) over the extended mile, in which the Paul O’Sullivan-trained maiden El Valiente is selected to get off the mark following two promising recent runs on the surface.

The other is Gallant Legacy in the Class 4 6f sprint handicap (9.05), where this likeable type can make light of a 7lb hike in the handicap for his easy win last time. He is out of a half-sister to Derby winner Wings Of Eagles.

Harry Bentley has his first six rides in Hong Kong following a three-week hotel quarantine. He is ready and eager but it is expected to be a quiet introduction to the local scene for the much-travelled rider.

Sha Tin Saturday card

Bet through the Tote

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Saturday is at 6am

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.00
1 Double Take
10 El Valiente

8.35
7 Golfman Star
10 Sky Show

9.05
4 Seven Heavens
7 Gallant Legacy

9.35
5 Dragon Fortune
8 So Awesome

10.10
2 Red Desert
4 Kurpany

10.45
1 Perfect To Great
3 Chancheng Prince

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

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