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

Stunning Peach
8.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Ka Ying Rising
9.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Packing Hermod
9.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

How good is Zac Purton?  We will have a more accurate gauge of the seven-time champion‘s genius in the saddle when he takes nine rides at Sha Tin, including the budding star sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the Group 2 Premier Bowl (9.10) over 6f.

What’s so unusual about that, you say?  A lot actually, as Purton's otherwise cracking book of mounts features seven who have been drawn awkwardly wide.Those inconvenienced start from stalls 12, 11, 14, 9, 12, 11 and 12 respectively.

The draw is everything in Hong Kong, more so than on European tracks, and tipsters usually start eliminating ‘possibles’ and mark them as ‘impossibles’ when they see a double-digit stall. Purton is the best at dealing with that scenario, although it can still be a test even for him.

Of the seven pinpointed, Ka Ying Rising, from stall nine, has probably fared ‘best’ and can be expected to begin smartly and cross the field to take up a handy position, either leading or sitting second on the outside.

The David Hayes-trained four-year-old is a son of Shamexpress and after arriving unraced from New Zealand, he has put together an impressive 6-8, registering seconds on the only two occasions he has been beaten. He will be attempting his sixth win on the trot in his toughest assignment, yet is a confident selection.

Under the handicap conditions, he will receive 7lb from hardened international campaigner California Spangle, winner of the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai and a force again now that Tony Cruz has brought him back in distance. Beauty Waves is next best in an intriguing contest.

Purton will have to get the Cruz-trained Stunning Peach over from his wide 11 draw in the Class 2 1m handicap (8.10), in which his biggest danger has also been drawn in the car park, namely Patch Of Theta, who begins from 12, with Hugh Bowman aboard.

Twelve months ago, Stunning Peach, who previously raced as Islandsinthestream when trained by Joseph O’Brien, split Los Angeles and Illinois when second in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and has bags of potential in his new environment. He will be grabbing headlines for some time to come.

Another of Purton’s awkwardly drawn ‘good things’ is the Francis Lui-trained Packing Hermod, in the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (9.45). Unbeaten in two starts, the gelding starts from gate 12 and also must contend with a hefty 12lb rise in the ratings for a three-length win over course and distance in July.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.10
6 Patch Of Theta
7 Stunning Peach

8.40
2 Courier Aladdin
7 Monarch County

9.10
1 California Spangle
2 Ka Ying Rising

9.45
2 Packing Hermod
11 Thunder Blink

10.20
4 Illuminous
5 Turin Starspangled

10.55
2 Prestige Always
9 Not Usual Star

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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