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

Fast Network
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Sugar Ball
9.40 Sha Tin
2pts win

Adefill
10.50 Sha Tin
2pts win

Zac Purton is set to build on his tidy lead in the jockeys’ championship with a decent book of six rides at Sha Tin, headed by the highly promising Fast Network in the 5f handicap (9.05).

Purton, with 15 wins on the board, is five clear of his nearest pursuer Hugh Bowman and the two riders are ready to go head-to-head here as Bowman rides the danger Celestial Colours, who is a smart type on a handy mark.

The Dennis Yip-trained Fast Network is 2-2 and appeared to have plenty in hand last time when he defeated Cheval Valiant, who has since franked the form with a course-and-distance win under Britney Wong.

It's interesting to note they were drawn near each other then but are on opposite sides of the track this time — and also that 10lb claimer Wong replaces Matthew Chadwick, who had the mount that day. Both have taken a step up in grade for their wins but they are capable of making an impression against this stronger opposition.

Celestial Colours ran a good race first time out when third behind Magic Control and would only have to repeat that performance to be bang there. Carroll Street, who is a straight-track specialist, was below par last time but is worth another chance.

Purton can follow up with victory in the 7f handicap (9.40) with Sugar Ball, who has gone up 7lb for his sole local win, although the Australian import had previously given a hint of his potential when winning a maiden at metro track Sandown in Melbourne.

Purton takes over from Derek Leung, one of a number of riders to have put in work on the five-year-old as he progresses through the ranks. The Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Trust is next best in a tricky race.

The meeting ends on an unusual note with an all-weather race programmed as the finale. The mile handicap (10.50) should go the way of a true dirt specilaist in the Ricky Yiu-trained Adefill.

All of his six wins have been registered on the Sha Tin dirt track, with three of them coming over course and distance. It is no disadvantage to be drawn out wide in stall ten as a lot of kickback can be avoided. Chill Chibi tries the surface for the first time but could easily take to it.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.00
2 Majestic Express
6 Gold Master

8.35
2 Aeroinvincible
5 Solid Win

9.05
4 Celestial Colours
7 Fast Network

9.40
2 Sugar Ball
5 Sky Trust

10.15
5 Divano
8 King Of Dubai

10.50
5 Adefill
7 Chill Chibi

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 6.00am.

Sha Tin card

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