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

Light Years Charm
12.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

La Forza
1.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Ahren
1.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Ricky Yiu is renowned for his astute judgement buying from the sales ring in Australia, which the promising Ahren could confirm by notching a second career win in the Class 3 6f handicap (1.45) at the twilight meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Yiu, riding high following the Triple Crown triumph of Voyage Bubble, paid A$220,000 for Ahren at the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale in 2023. Since coming to Hong Kong, the three-year-old is 1-4 and has never finished out of the first four.

At his previous start, the gelding failed by a short head to overhaul front-running Call Me Glorious and lost no admirers in the process. With Andrea Atzeni is the saddle again, he's first choice, with the unbeaten Little Paradise, a three-year-old son of Toronado, next best in a strong finale to the ten-race card.

Zac Purton has his usual strong book of rides, with the David Eustace-trained Light Years Charm appearing best of his nine mounts, in the Class 2 7f handicap (12.05), in which the talented Invincible Shield is second pick.

With one winner on a card made tricky by heavy rain at Happy Valley on Wednesday, Purton forged 50 winners clear of his nearest rival Hugh Bowman in the jockeys’ championship, a measure of his domination this season.

Light Years Charm won a 7f maiden at New South Wales ‘bush’ track Lismore, but that gave no real hint of his ability and potential, which Eustace has developed. And because of that modest early form (on paper) he has been ahead of the handicapper from day one.

He's ready for his biggest test to date, the step up in grade to Class 2 following a 7lb ratings hike for his easy win last time out. Drawn seven of eight, Purton’s tactics are key to the outcome but he has the class and potential.

One of Purton’s most interesting rides is the smart sprinter La Forza in the Class 3 5f handicap (1.10), in which the gelding should again relish his pet distance.

He's three from four on the straight course and, drawn reasonably well in stall nine, he'll be up there all the way. Metro Power may have caught his connections a little by surprise when he ran so well for second to Stellar Express over course and distance on his local debut, and he'll be a lot shorter in betting this time, especially with a high-numbered draw.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

11.00
1 Dancing Classics
5 Lahore

11.35
4 Riding Together
7 Max Que

12.05
4 Invincible Shield
7 Light Years Charm

12.35
13 Super Unicorn
14 The Absolute

1.10
2 La Forza
8 Metro Power

1.45
8 Little Paradise
10 Ahren

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

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

Sign up to the Tote here. New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.