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

Lucky Express
6.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Running Glory
8.40 Sha Tin
2pts win

Senor Toba
9.50 Sha Tin
2pts win

Senor Toba takes an important step closer to his main target, the Hong Kong Derby on March 20, when lining up in the Class 2 1m1f handicap (9.50), the finale on a bumper Chinese New Year card at Sha Tin.

The four-year-old Australian import is the joint-sixth highest-rated Derby entry on official figures and could progress even further up the ladder if accounting for the in-form Beluga in a hot contest to conclude the 11-race holiday fixture.

Joao Moreira has stuck with the gelding despite his 6lb rise in the handicap for a solid win over 1m2f latest, an indication that he has settled in nicely. He could well reproduce the form that saw him land a Group 3 in Sydney and finish second in the Group 1 Queensland Derby for Chris Waller last May.

Beluga is an admirably tough five-year-old still capable of improvement. The son of Tavistock has come through the grades and proven remarkably consistent, winning five races and placing eight times in 16 starts, and he has never run better.

However, there are others also worthy of consideration for multiples such as Charity Go, Tianchi Monster and C P Brave, who all have good recent runs to their credit.

Moreira has chosen to ride Californiadeepshot in the feature, the Chinese New Year Cup (6.00) over 7f, leaving the way open for rival Zac Purton to make hay on the promising Lucky Express, who will be hard to beat.

Purton was aboard the Toronado gelding for his last win in the Panasonic Cup over course and distance last November, and drawn 6, he should enjoy the run of the race and prove a handy winner for trainer John Size.

The David Hayes-trained Master Montaro will be suited by the drop back in distance, while Will Power is a most interesting runner, switching to the turf despite all seven of his wins having been registered on dirt.

Moreira also has bright prospects aboard Running Glory, who is capable of overcoming a wide draw (12) in division two of the Class 3 7f handicap (8.40). Charity Grace looks his main danger.

Sha Tin Tote Placepot

7.05
1 Amazing Teens
12 Super Hong Kong

7.35
1 Beauty Fit
5 Horsesain Bolt

8.05
3 Galaxy Witness
4 Oriental Smoke

8.40
9 Charity Grace
12 Running Glory

9.15
1 Family Folks
5 Gallant Express

9.50
1 Beluga
4 Senor Toba

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 bets

Bets can be placed into Sha Tin pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Thursday is at 4.30am.

Sha Tin Thursday card

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