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

Darci Joy
8.40 Sha Tin
2pts win

Voyage Bubble
9.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Wunderbar
10.55 Sha Tin
2pts win

Much-travelled Voyage Bubble can expect an enthusiastic homecoming when he lines up in the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy (9.10) over a mile on a ten-race card on Sunday that features several who look certain to leave their mark later in the season.

Unfortunately, Voyage Bubble’s overseas ventures have amounted to little. He finished 13th in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March and 17th in the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June – but he has enjoyed a good break and has trialled twice at Conghua since his return.

Trainer Ricky Yiu says he is pleased with the gelding’s progress and expects a big run here, despite the six-year-old carrying top weight of 9st 9lb. He concedes 6lb to the highly promising Galaxy Patch and 4lb to Champions’ Mile winner Beauty Eternal.

Voyage Bubble is a truly top-level performer having won the 2023 Hong Kong Derby as well as finishing runner-up behind Golden Sixty in that champion’s stunning triumph in the Hong Kong Mile last December.

He is a new ride for Andrea Atzeni, who travelled over the border to put the gelding through his paces in a barrier trial last month, when he was reportedly pleased with the feel he was getting. There were no signs of the travel having taken its toll.

Galaxy Patch, who Vincent Ho is hoping can fill the void left by the retirement of Golden Sixty, is a fascinating prospect. He has been campaigned from 5f to 1m2f, but it is generally accepted the a mile is his forte, and this race will help formulate a plan for the rest of his season. Drawn in stall two, Ho will no doubt ride for luck, angling for a run on the turn.

Beauty Eternal should also run well and is one for the forecast, but John Size will be thinking of the Hong Kong Mile as the five-year-old's long-term goal. Chancheng Glory is also on the radar and should be included in multiples.

The talented Wunderbar has been the only winner this season for Size, who is renowned for his slow starts to a campaign. An inside draw in stall one can help the four-year-old make it six wins from seven outings in the 6f handicap (10.55).

Finally, David Eustace can follow up his breakthrough success on Wednesday when Darci Joy lines up in the mile handicap (8.40). The seven-year-old hasn’t won for 19 months, but has taken a significant drop in the handicap as a result.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.10
3 Thriving Brothers
5 Endeared

8.40
5 Family Jewel
12 Darci Joy

9.10
1 Voyage Bubble
4 Galaxy Patch

9.45
1 Stellar Swift
7 Jubilant Winner

10.20
2 Young Achiever
5 Lucy In The Sky

10.55
5 Lucky Encounter
6 Wunderbar

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 5.35am.

Sha Tin card

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