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

Red Titan
8.30 Sha Tin
2pts win

Lucky Sweynesse
10.15 Sha Tin
2pts win

Tuchel
10.50 Sha Tin
2pts win

Joao Moreira and Zac Purton are set to provide a thrilling climax to the Hong Kong season, with their battle for the jockeys’ championship likely to go right down to the final race on a challenging 11-race card at Sha Tin on Saturday.

After 87 meetings and 825 races, the pair are locked together on 132 wins each, although if it came to a count back Purton has one dead-heat included in his total against Moreira’s two, which gives the Australian a slender lead.

Moreira drew level by firing in a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday while Purton went winless, so the scene is set to finally decide who will be champion. Their rivalry has boosted the sport in arguably the most trying season in the past 50 years.

Purton appears to have marginally the better book of rides with Turin Redsun expected to go close in the mile handicap (9.05) following several excellent runs. When Douglas Whyte books Purton it should be noted and followed.

But Purton’s aces come in the final two races when he partners Lucky Sweynesse in the 6f handicap (10.15) and Tuchel in the mile handicap (10.50), although both must overcome awkward but not impossible draws.

Lucky Sweynesse has leapfrogged his way through the classes, going up 36lb in the handicap as he put together an impressive record of four wins and two placings from six starts, and there is no end in sight to his upward curve.

If he can slot in from stall ten, he will take all the beating. Moreira’s mount Jumbo Fortune, who is starting to realise his potential, looks to be the main danger in an interesting heat, in which Blaze Warrior also has claims.

Tuchel battled admirably on the yielding-to-soft ground on his third-last start. He looked very smart when winning his two previous outings and, with luck in running, he will be hard to beat in the finale, with Storm Legend as the danger.

Moreira’s best-value ride appears to be the John Size-trained Red Titan in the 7f handicap (8.30). This Irish import has shown glimpses of ability in recent months and would need only a little improvement to land this. Super Dynamite is his main opposition.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

RACE 6 (1st leg, 8.00 Sha Tin, Saturday)
4 Gang Of Brothers
7 All Is Good

8.30
3 Super Dynamite
12 Red Titan

9.05
7 Turin Redsun
8 Bourbonaire

9.40
1 Power Koepp
13 Lucky Eight

10.15
6 Lucky Sweynesse
10 Jumbo Fortune

10.50
5 Tuchel
9 Storm Legend

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Saturday is at 5.30am.

Sha Tin Saturday card

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