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

Rockpaperscissors
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Reve Parisien
9.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Keefy
10.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Frankie Lor sends a seven-strong team to Sha Tin on Sunday as he fights to consolidate his narrow lead in the trainers’ championship heading into the last week of the season.

Lor is six wins clear of John Size (90-84) with just three meetings remaining. He is refusing to relax as he knows his former boss and mentor is capable of firing in winners when least expected.

The progressive Keefy, in the Class 2 7f handicap (10.45), is Lor’s best on the ten-race card, having cruised home an easy winner from a wide draw over course and distance in a lower grade last start. It is no surprise the handicapper put him up 8lb and promoted him.

Keefy should prove a valuable winner for Joao Moreira, who trails Zac Purton by two (129-131) in their battle for the jockeys’ title, but Purton’s mount Captain Win, who is a smart Australian import and still yet to fulfil his full potential, looks the danger in a tough race.

Lor also has an excellent chance earlier with Rockpaperscissors, who can break his maiden at the fourth time of asking in the Class 4 7f handicap (9.05), and Moreira retains the ride following the gelding’s solid second over course and distance last month.

Rockpaperscissors was safely held by the talented Tuchel on that occasion but he is a fast-improving three-year-old who hints at going much higher up the ladder next season. King Eccellente is also untapped and an intriguing runner for the Douglas Whyte and Lyle Hewitson combination.

Much has been written about trainer Paul O’Sullivan’s pending retirement and it is worth noting that five of his 22 winners this season have come in the past seven weeks, which is good reason to follow his Reve Parisien in the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (9.35).

Reve Parisien, a winner of three races in New Zealand prior to being exported, finished a good fourth last time on his sixth start in Hong Kong. He has won in this grade off 9lb lower than his current mark and gives every indication he can win again soon.

John Size, leaving nothing to chance in the final days of the season and still with ammunition to fire, is represented by Brilliant Way, who has serious claims despite his last start failure. Alexis Badel is again in the saddle.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.00
3 Sweet Diamond
7 Dragon Kingdom

8.35
1 Let’s Do It
11 President’s Choice

9.05
5 Rockpaperscissors
8 King Eccellente

9.35
3 Brilliant Way
7 Reve Parisien

10.10
2 Elon
8 Call Me Teddy

10.45
7 Keefy
9 Captain Win

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

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

Sha Tin Sunday card

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