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

Bottomuptogether
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Frantanck
10.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Prestige Always
10.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

The value of a 10lb claim from an apprentice, who is skilled and confident, is immeasurable as Hong Kong punters are seeing with fresh face Britney Wong, who partners the front-running Frantanck in the Class 3 mile handicap (10.10) at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Wong rode her first local winner last Sunday, although she could hardly be regarded as a novice. The 25-year-old had an excellent grounding in South Australia where she landed 50 winners prior to returning home to start her apprenticeship with David Hall.

Frantanck is a bold-striding trailblazer and looks an ideal type for Wong to fully utilise her allowance. Expect the Pierre Ng-trained gelding to bounce straight into the lead from stall seven and dictate throughout. He will take some catching with just 8st 10lb on his back.

Zac Purton is aboard the New Zealand import Fortunate Son, who caught the eye rattling home from last to take second over 7f on his first start of the season. Prior to export, he was 2-3, including a win at top track Ellerslie, and is promising. M Unicorn is third pick in a hot race.

As ever, Purton is expected to dominate, particularly with the unbeaten Bottomuptogether in the Class 3 6f handicap sprint (9.05), in which he bids to give Frankie Lor his first win of season. Uncharacteristically, Lor is 0-34 after six meetings but this one should get him off the mark.

Bottomuptogether, a son of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, has effortlessly progressed through the ranks, with his most recent success over 6f giving a glimpse of his potential, though the handicapper has not missed him, putting him up 12lb in the ratings.

Drawn eight and shouldering top weight of 9st 9lb, he is still the one to beat, with the David Hayes-trained Rubylot and Hugh Bowman aboard, next best in a race in which the cream will rise to the top.

Purton has a knack of picking an up-and-comer on the rise, which is exactly the description that fits the Ng-trained Prestige Always, who looks a decent bet in the finale, the Class 3 7f handicap (10.45), even starting from stall 13.

The three-year-old son of Starspangledbanner won a Galway maiden and placed in a Group 3 at Deauville for Joseph O’Brien, while he recently won two barrier trials with Purton in the saddle. He has been primed for this and is probably good enough to overcome the draw.