Hong Kong racing tips: pool betting expertise for Sha Tin on Sunday

Highly touted Australian import Lucky Express can make a splash on his Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin, hopefully taking the 6f handicap (10.50) to bring home the Placepot on Sunday.

It is often difficult for new imports to win on their first start in Hong Kong, particularly if they have a rating above 80 that places them in Class 2 company.

If a horse can win on their first Hong Kong start off a rating above 80, it is usually a very promising sign of things to come.

It doesn't always work out that way – Nightlign won on his debut off a rating of 90 in 2008 and scored only one further win in 2009 before his next success came in a Class 5 in 2013.

However, it is generally a stepping stone towards some of the biggest races in town.

Lucky Express has been touted as the early front-runner for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series next year, featuring the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the Hong Kong Classic Cup and the Hong Kong Derby.

He won two of his three starts in Australia, both in valuable races for Victorian-bred horses, and he should go close on Sunday. Include him in the Placepot along with Mr Croissant.

A race earlier, Fantastic Show will bid to make it five wins in a row in the 7f Class 3 handicap (10.15).

The Hong Kong handicap system makes it very difficult to be able to put multiple wins together. Hong Kong Derby winner Golden Sixty won seven races in a row this term, but only the first four of those were in handicaps.

In fact, while a number of horses achieved the feat last season, including Elusive State, Full Of Beauty and Champion's Way, no horse has made it five in a row since True Grit in July last year.

Fantastic Show was a maiden through 13 starts across three seasons before his first victory in February. Since then, he has made the Sha Tin 1400 metres (7f) his own and, on recent form, looks more than capable of breaking through near the top of Class 3.

The day's feature is the Lion Rock Trophy (9.40), a Group 3 over 1600 metres (1m). It's worth including a few selections to get through this race – include likely leader Ka Ying Star, the enigmatic but talented Beauty Legacy and General's Delight, who is on an upward curve and can figure despite being 17lb out of the handicap.

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 6 (leg 1): 2
Race 7 (leg 2): 3, 9
Race 8 (leg 3): 2, 3
Race 9 (leg 4): 2, 8, 11
Race 10 (leg 5): 5, 10
Race 11 (leg 6): 5, 7

Sha Tin card

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