Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three fancies on Sunday's Sha Tin card

Ping Hai Bravo
8.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Wellington
9.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Ka Ying Excellent
9.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Trainer Richard Gibson is giving his latest potential star Wellington every chance to make it to the top by selecting Sunday’s Class 2 sprint handicap (9.10) on Sha Tin’s straight 5f course for his next step up the ladder.

Gibson, who won praise for his handling of Akeed Mofeed, a Hong Kong Derby winner, knows it’s best to adopt a softly-softly approach with inexperienced horses, no matter how talented they appear.

Wellington, a son of Black Caviar’s half-brother All Too Hard, is four from five and faces his biggest challenge off the back of a highly-impressive win on his seasonal debut three weeks ago, for which he has gone up 9lb in the handicap and been promoted a grade.

That win came off the back of an eight-month layoff (tendon trouble), so this is the acid test. He should win, but the promising Classic Unicorn, who has a similar profile (though already proven in Class 2), is the danger.

There are two headline horses on this mixed ten-race card – the other is Kings Shield, who looks a good thing in the Class 1 handicap (6.00), over an extended mile on dirt – and neither promises the opportunity for early retirement. At cramped odds, inclusion in multiples is the only answer.

Frankie Lor is hoping Kings Shield can use this as a springboard to the Godolphin Mile at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night in March, though the trainer is fully aware of the logistical minefield he must negotiate first amid Covid restrictions.

John Size is chipping away steadily in the trainers’ ranks, and Ping Hai Bravo is a perfect example of his ability to nurture a new talent and progress him through the ranks. The gelding is tipped to land his third win of the season in the Class 3 5f handicap sprint (8.05).

Antoine Hamelin, who finished fourth aboard the four-year-old last term, is reunited with the four-year-old, who is perfectly suited to his style and should be finishing strongly.

Tony Cruz and Joao Moreira can send punters home on a winning note by combining with in-form Ka Ying Excellent, who bids for a third win over course and distance in the Class 3 7f handicap (9.45).

Sha Tin Sunday 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 Sunday is at 5am

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 5 (1st leg): 8 Touch Faith, 10 Little Player
Race 6 (2nd leg): 1 Everyone’s Delight, 11 Hot Chili Pepper
Race 7 (3rd leg): 1 Ping Hai Bravo, 3 Valiant Dream
Race 8 (4th leg): 3 Turin Redstar, 4 Amazing News
Race 9 (5th leg): 2 Classic Unicorn, 5 Wellington
Race 10 (6th leg): 5 Sparky Trail, 8 Ka Ying Excellent

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