Jim McGrath with three selections for Sha Tin's Monday card

Killer Bee
8.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Gracylove
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Wellington
10.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Rising talent Wellington is the star on Monday's high-quality ten-race card at Sha Tin, which features two Group 2 contests and several tricky handicaps.

The four-year-old would normally have met several well-established big guns in the Group 2 Sprint Cup (10.10) over 6f, but The Everest winner Classique Legend bled in a training gallop last week and is to return to Australia, while Hot King Prawn is being rested.

It makes it a little easier, though he now has the progressive Sky Field to worry about, as well consistent Computer Patch and Winning Dreamer.

Trainer Richard Gibson knows when a good horse enters his stable, and he has long thought highly of Wellington, who is a son of All Too Hard, the Caulfield Guineas-winning half-brother to unbeaten Australian champion Black Caviar.

The gelding’s record underlines that assessment – he is an impressive six from eight so far – but after roaring through the class system like an express train, he now tackles Group company for the first time. A sprinter with gears, he is confidently selected to win again.

The other Group 2 race, the mile Chairman’s Trophy (7.00), features the clash of old rivals Waikuku and Southern Legend, who finished in that order in the 7f Queen’s Jubilee Cup six weeks ago, and there is good reason to believe it will be the same again this time.

Glorious Dragon’s rise through the staying ranks can continue in the Class One handicap (6.30), over 1m2f, which should act as a stepping stone to next month’s Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup, though he will have strong opposition from the lightly weighted Butterfield.

The Caspar Fownes-trained Killer Bee, who was impressive on debut, still looks to be ahead of the handicapper despite taking a step up in grade in the Class 3 6f handicap sprint (8.00) and is set to go in again.

The other bet worth noting is lightly raced Gracylove, who is coming to hand well for trainer David Hall, and with Zac Purton booked, the gelding will give a good sight in the Class 4 7f handicap (8.35).

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 5 (1st leg): 9 Decisive Twelve, 11 Killer Bee
Race 6 (2nd leg): 1 Super Winner, 11 Gracylove
Race 7 (3rd leg): 3 Leading Fortune, 5 Vukan
Race 8 (4th leg): 8 Hurry Hurry Gain, 10 Sky Show
Race 9 (5th leg): 3 Wellington, 12 Sky Field
Race 10 (6th leg): 6 All For South, 11 Kasi Farasi

Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes

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