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

Patch Of Theta  
11.30 Sha Tin
2pts win

Ensued 
12.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Dazzling Fit  
2.20 Sha Tin
2pts win

If ever a horse deserved a ‘forgive’ run it is the John Size-trained Ensued, who gets his chance to bounce back in the Group 3 Premier Plate over 1m1f (12.35).

Ensued endured one of the toughest runs at elite level for some time when he dashed around the outside of the Champions and Chater Cup field mid-race to put pressure on leader Moments In Time and Dubai Honour. 

The pace slackened and Zac Purton was keen to get closer the leaders for when they would sprint for home. However, he found himself trapped wide and working overtime, which took its toll and the five-year-old finished sixth, beaten four and three-quarter lengths.

The race fell into the lap of Voyage Bubble, who went on to Triple Crown glory, and Ensued did well to finish as close as he did. Dropping back in trip and again drawn the inside (four), the former James Fanshawe-trained gelding gets a great chance to atone.

Derby winner Cap Ferrat, trained by Francis Lui, battled on for a creditable third in the Champions and Chater and he is set for another good run, while ever-reliable Chancheng Glory, his stablemate, is next best in an intriguing contest. 

Lui has called on Andrea Atzeni to partner Patch Of Theta for the first time in the Group 3 7f Premier Cup (11.30) and with an attractive draw, he is set to capitalise. Atzeni becomes the gelding’s seventh jockey this season. 

The son of Zoustar is 6-18 and has only twice been unplaced. His consistency hints at a horse still on the improve, although he faces keen opposition here, headed by the Size-trained Beauty Eternal, who is back in form.

Size is sailing towards his 13th trainers’ title with a team still racing well in the final stages of the season as general fatigue and the hot, humid weather takes effect on so many.  He is nine wins clear of David Hayes and should have enough in hand to collect another trophy.

First season trainer David Eustace returns from Royal Ascot, where he watched brother Harry saddle two Group 1 winners at long odds. He can build on his own impressive efforts by landing the finale, the Class 3 7f handicap (2.20), with rapid improver Dazzling Fit, who aims for a hat-trick.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

11.30
1 Beauty Eternal
5 Patch Of Theta 

12.05
9 Smart Fat Cat
14 Sunny Q 

12.35
4 Ensued
7 Cap Ferrat 

1.10
4 Super Infinity
9 Beauty Crescent 

1.45
8 Flash Current
10 Morgan Success 

2.20
6 Dazzling Fit
9 Super Express 

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Saturday is at 9am

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