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

Crimson Flash
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Kempes
9.40 Sha Tin
2pts win

Invincible Ibis
10.15 Sha Tin
2pts win

Andrea Atzeni is back in form after a quiet spell and looks ready to continue in the winning vein aboard the progressive Crimson Flash in the Class 2 6f handicap (9.05) on an 11-race card at Sha Tin on Saturday morning. 

Atzeni went six meetings without a winner, but reversed that trend when driving home the John Size-trained Amazing Kid for a welcome success at Happy Valley on Wednesday and could be set to follow up on a horse who has become one of his favourites. 

That’s hardly surprising as he rode the Mark Newnham-trained four-year-old to all three of his back-to-back Hong Kong wins, with the sequence coming to an end when he was run down late by Colourful King over 5f on the straight course at Sha Tin last time. 

Crimson Flash is likely to welcome the return to 6f, and drawn well (stall one) he should enjoy the run of the race and prove hard to beat. The danger is Zac Purton’s mount Patch Of Stars, who has won five of his last seven starts, going up 6lb in the ratings for his most recent victory. 

Atzeni, who has ridden 11 winners this season, also partners Argentine import Kempes, another of his favourites, in the Class 3 7f handicap (9.40).

Atzeni was on board when Kempes produced a powerful late finishing burst to come from an impossible position to win over 6f at Sha Tin in October, his first glimpse of form since his arrival two years ago. 

His performed with credit on two subsequent runs on dirt, but one senses he will be more at home on the grass. The main opposition may come from Frankie Lor’s The Red Hare, one of ten rides on the card for Hollie Doyle. 

Newnham has been joined at the top of the trainers’ table by Caspar Fownes – both on 24 wins after 29 meetings – with Danny Shum (23) and David Hayes (21) snapping at their heels. All have made brilliant starts to the season. 

Newnham has another excellent chance in the shape of the untapped Invincible Ibis (Zac Purton) in the Class 3 mile handicap (10.15), in which Dazzling Fit (James McDonald) is next best. It is the last day of J-Mac’s current stint in Hong Kong, although he will be back for the big meetings later in the season.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

7.35
7 Nyx Gluck
8 Packing King

8.05
2 Fit For Beauty
7 Smart Fat Cat

8.35
4 New Future Folks
5 Sunny Da Best

9.05
7 Patch Of Stars
9 Crimson Flash

9.40
6 Kempes
14 The Red Hare

10.15
4 Dazzling Fit
5 Invincible Ibis

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Saturday is at 5am

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