Hong Kong tips: Jim McGrath with three Sha Tin fancies for Saturday

Ai One
7.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Packing Victory
9.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Horsesain Bolt
9.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Blake Shinn, riding with renewed confidence, is the jockey to follow for value on the bumper 11-race card at Sha Tin, which offers plenty of variety to kick off the new year.

Shinn rode a treble on the dirt on Wednesday, when his poise and timing pointed to a rider who had finally cracked it in Hong Kong, and the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey was quick to thank trainer David Hayes for his backing.

He gets a further chance to show that gratitude on the track when partnering Ai One for Hayes in the Class 4 handicap (7.00), over 1m 1f, which perfectly fits the profile of the five-year-old, who previously won over the trip for John O’Shea in Sydney.

Being by stamina-influencing Shocking, the gelding can use his staying power to see off a well-matched field, provided they go a reasonable gallop.

He finished a creditable third over an extended mile for Ryan Moore in a leg of the international jockeys’ championship at Happy Valley last month.

The Jimmy Ting-trained Lucky Diamond has found some form this season, winning two of his three starts and looking a progressive type. He should be running on strongly from a wide draw.

Shinn’s other mount for value is the Douglas Whyte-trained Horsesain Bolt, whom he partners for the first time in the Class 3 7f handicap (9.45). Although a 14-race maiden locally, the five-year-old has been placed seven times and shown considerable promise.

On his most recent start, he was dropped out from his wide draw, but Shinn is likely to be positive from stall five and sit a lot closer to the pace, which will be of great assistance in such a competitive race. Amazing Chocolate is one to include in multiples.

The two good things on the card, Master Eight (8.05) and Lucky With You (8.35), will be short odds, but both should win. Excellent Proposal, another likely hotpot, is tipped to return to winning ways in the Group 3 7f Chinese Club Challenge Cup (6.00).

However, it may pay to put aside something for the talented Packing Victory, who had no luck from a wide draw for Christophe Soumillon on his last start, and can make amends in the Class 2 7f handicap (9.10), with Alexis Badel booked this time.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

7.00
4 Ai One
7 Lucky Diamond

7.35
7 Nimble Nimbus
13 Leading Fortune

8.05
2 Super Wealthy
5 Master Eight

8.35
1 Circuit Stellar
5 Lucky With You

9.10
1 Fantastic Treasure
10 Packing Victory

9.45
2 Amazing Chocolate
5 Horsesain Bolt

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 bets

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

Sha Tin Saturday card

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