Hong Kong View: Jim McGrath's International Races selections from Sha Tin

Victor The Winner
5.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Stone Age
6.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

The Irishman
10.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

It usually pays to follow visiting overseas jockeys on lightning visits to the International meeting at Sha Tin as several trainers like to keep one up their sleeve for the undercard to ensure they get some of the headlines on the big day.

James McDonald, the four-time Sydney champion, is a prime example as Danny Shum not only booked him for Romantic Warrior in the Cup some time ago but he has clearly been waiting for McDonald to return to run Victor The Winner, and the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (5.35) has popped neatly into the frame.

More of McDonald’s skill will be required to get the four-year-old home from a much wider draw this time, but this lightly raced son of Toronado is going the right way and might well have progressed from his last start.

Lord Thunder is drawn better in stall two and Hugh Bowman is booked to ride. He looks the danger in a tough race.

Ryan Moore can always be followed with confidence when he turns up in Hong Kong and Stone Age in the 1m4f Vase (6.10) presents him with an ideal opportunity to bag a race.

Although he has not won since early May, this one-time Derby favourite might be able to dictate in a race he should find winnable. It is certainly easier than the task he faced on his last start when he chased home the talented Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

Andre Fabre should always be respected when he sends any of his team abroad and four-year-old Botanik, already the winner of seven races, including the Grand Prix de Deauville, is set to run a big race and might well worry Stone Age.

Save a little for The Irishman, Blake Shinn’s ride in the last race, the Class 2 7f handicap (10.00), as he has been crying out for the bigger track at Sha Tin. Viva Chaleur and Blaze Warrior are the dangers.

Shinn did well in Hong Kong but found the Covid restrictions too severe and returned to Melbourne, where he has seamlessly resumed his career. They never forget a rider who wins the Melbourne Cup, which Shinn achieved on Viewed 14 years ago.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

6.50
1 Wellington
4 Lucky Sweynesse

7.25
3 Sweet Encounter
8 Entrusted

8.00
1 Golden Sixty
4 Schnell Meister

8.40
2 Romantic Warrior
1 Panthalassa

9.20
3 Sword Point
6 Voyage Bubble

10.00
4 The Irishman
13 Viva Chaleur

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

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