Hong Kong tips: JA McGrath's three tips and Placepot fancies at Happy Valley

Jumbo Legend
7.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

SJ Tourbillon
8.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Majestic Star
9.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Douglas Whyte has started an ambitious climb through the ranks with SJ Tourbillon, who looks the one to beat in the 1m3f handicap (8.10) on a rare Sunday meeting at Happy Valley.

Trainers are creatures of habit, so the purchase of SJ Tourbillon, who raced as Roman Empire for Ballydoyle when fourth in the 2021 Dante Stakes, was understandable after Whyte did so well with the gelding’s former stablemate and Hong Kong Gold Cup winner Russian Emperor.

To further illustrate an emerging pattern, SJ Tourbillon finished second in last year’s Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Russian Emperor won the same race in 2020, although the similarities end there as they are currently classes apart on official ratings.

SJ Tourbillon has gone up 5lb in the handicap for his last-stride nose victory in a 1m1f Sha Tin handicap on his 12th local start, but he could be on a roll now he has found winning form and is stepping up in trip, which he needs.

The four-year-old son of Galileo gained his first win in Hong Kong the hard way, coming from well back in the field before finishing with a flourish.

SJ Tourbillon will again be partnered by former South African champion jockey Lyle Hewitson, who has several good rides on the card, including Astrologer in the 6f sprint handicap (9.15), in which smart import Majestic Star, Harry Bentley’s mount, will be his chief rival.

Majestic Star was 2-4 in Victoria, including a win at Melbourne metro track Caulfield as a juvenile, and he has continued to improve in Hong Kong, where he is 4-13. Three of those four local wins have come on dirt, but he is equally proficient on turf, particularly at Happy Valley.

The Caspar Fownes-trained Jumbo Legend was a runaway three-length winner last time out, and despite a 9lb increase in the handicap he is selected to land the 6f handicap (7.40).

He should have most to fear from the John Size-trained Shining Fortune, who will be ridden by Zac Purton for the first time in just under five months.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

7.10
2 Lyrical Motion
4 Pretty Queen Prawn

7.40
2 Jumbo Legend
7 Shining Fortune

8.10
4 SJ Tourbillon
9 Hit The Shot

8.40
2 Nimble Nimbus
5 Majestic Victory

9.15
3 Majestic Star
10 Astrologer

9.50
6 Winning Icey
9 Stradale

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Happy Valley on Sunday is 4.45am.

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