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

Brilliant Way
7.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

California Spangle
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Stoltz
9.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Zac Purton being reunited with California Spangle, as well as a favourable draw, gives the brilliant four-year-old a perfect opportunity to turn the tables on Romantic Warrior in the featured 1m1f Hong Kong Classic Cup (8.35) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

California Spangle was in stall 13 when beaten half a length in second by Romantic Warrior (drawn 1) in the Classic Mile four weeks ago, but on Sunday the roles are reversed and it is likely to make all the difference.

This time, it is California Spangle who has the inside draw (6), while Romantic Warrior starts second from the outside (13), making it more of a challenge for the son of Acclamation, who remains unbeaten after five starts.

Purton takes over from Matthew Chadwick, who was clearly instructed to lead at all costs in the Classic Mile and despite using plenty of early speed and energy to get across from his outside gate, he almost pulled it off, being run down only in the closing stages.

Whether Karis Teetan adopts similar tactics on Romantic Warrior remains to be seen but whatever the shape of the race, both have enough stamina in their pedigrees to say they can stay the distance.

The Classic Cup is the second leg of the four-year-old Triple Crown and both The Irishman and Senor Toba are likely to use this as a stepping stone to their ultimate target, the Hong Kong Derby over 1m2f on March 20. They have place chances.

Joao Moreira is back after his lengthy suspension, which allowed Purton to come from 18 wins behind in the championship on February 6, to be one win in front (75-74), so the old rivalry still dominates the landscape, with several very talented riders picking up the crumbs.

Moreira is tipped to team up successfully with old ally John Size when he rides untapped Brilliant Way in the Class 4 6f sprint handicap (7.35), in which he may find the David Hayes-trained Miracle Victory his chief danger.

Purton has a multitude of winning chances, with one of the best being rising star Stoltz, who steps up a grade in the Class 2 6f sprint handicap (9.45). The gelding won three on provincial tracks around Sydney for Annabel Neasham before joining Francis Lui.

Sha Tin Placepot

7.00am
5 Trader
6 Everyone's Victory

7.35am
1 Miracle Victory
6 Brilliant Way

8.05am
3 Oriental Smoke
7 Solar Partner

8.35am
1 California Spangle
2 Romantic Warrior

9.10am
3 Sauvestre
6 Running Glory

9.45am
1 Trillion Win
10 Stoltz

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 bets

Bets can be placed into Sha Tin 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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