Adam Cusworth's Sha Tin preview and tips for Sunday

Racing in Hong Kong is at Sha Tin on Sunday for an 11-race programme that sees the big names step out with three races at Group 2 level.

Here is our preview of the meeting.

Race 1

SUPER HIGHWAY (1) can go close in the opener. The Frankie Lor-trained galloper can be forgiven for a last start effort when pulling up with issues after an 11th at Class 3 level on October 15. He was 3rd in that grade prior to that and comes in with a winning trial. Monitor betting for the three debutants in this race including PATCH OF TIME (7). The four-year-old comes in with three trials and will be ridden by Zac Purton, who has booted out to a seven-win lead in the Jockey's Premiership. THE GOOD DEAL (13) is a last start Class 5 winner that might push forward from the barrier and can land in the money. ROMANTIC HERO (8) is another first starter that has trialled well. Include.

Selections: 1-7-13-8

Race 2

Nice race with the Class 2 gallopers in action over the 1800m. RISE BRETHREN (7) has placed in his two runs this season and closed off well on the All-Weather Track for 3rd on October 25. He races well over the 1800m at Sha Tin and will settle midfield with Purton to ride. ALL FOR ST PAULS (3) was the winner ahead of Rise Brethren and remains in contention but will have to do it with an extra 4kg. CHAMPION DRAGON (4) should enjoy a nice run in transit and comes off a last start runner-up performance in the Sa Sa Purse (1800m) at Group 3 level a fortnight ago. COLUMBUS COUNTY (6) is next best.

Selections: 7-3-4-6

Race 3

Rolling the dice on RAGING BLIZZARD (4) in Race 3. The John Size-trained galloper has had just the one career start for an impressive performance when running on to fill the exacta behind Sweet Briar back in July. Connections fired in an unsuccessful protest in that race, while there was a big gap back to 3rd. GORGEOUS WIN (8) is a first starter that has some excellent trial form and must be considered with Karis Teetan to ride. PRINCE CHISWICK (11) might push up to settle handy and will strip fitter after finishing 4th back on October 15 over the 1200m. STRATHPEFER (12) can be an improver back in distance.

Selections: 4-8-11-12

Race 4

Hard to split a couple in this race that will both be out for the hat-trick and they are LUCKY ENCOUNTER (9) and HELIOS EXPRESS (8). Going with Lucky Encounter on the back of the fitness advantage. He overcame the wide barrier on October 15 to win well at and looks up to the rise in class. Helios Express has won two of his three starts and should be ready after a series of trials. FLYING ACE (2) has been knocking on the door in recent times and ran on from the tail to fill the exacta behind Lucky With You at his most recent start. He should be strong late. DREAM WINNER (7) is also in the mix.

Selections: 9-8-2-7

Race 5

This shapes as a wide-open betting race. SPEEDSTAR (12) has been close up in recent times and should be within striking distance from barrier 6. The David Hall-trained galloper comes off a last start 3rd at Happy Valley and is a previous track and trip winner. CIRCUIT NINE (6) draws to save ground and showed a bit when resuming on November 5 with a 4th placing at the track and trip behind Pins Prince. SMART FIGHTER (5) will have his work cut out from barrier 14 but was solid when resuming with a runner-up performance behind Noble Pursuit on October 15 and must be included. CHIU CHOW BROTHER (10) faded into 8th last time but was a track and trip winner two starts ago and can stick on this time around.

Selections: 12-6-5-10

Race 6

We stretch out over the 2000m in Race 6 and TURIN MASCOT (4) can go on with the job after scoring at Happy Valley over the 2200m on October 29. The Pierre Ng-trained galloper was strong to the line that night and cleared out with Majestic Victory, putting a gap on the rest. He should be at peak fitness after two runs. INTREPID WINNER (11) and FRANTANCK (12) filled the placings behind Lean Hero at Happy Valley over the 1800m on November 8. Both draw low for this assignment and look to be in the mix. ENSUED (7) is an up and comer from the John Size stable that gets out to the 2000m for the first time and just needs to overcome the wide barrier.

Selections: 4-11-12-7

Race 7

Sticking with LUCKY SWEYNESSE (1) in the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint. The five-year-old has finished runner-up as a short priced favourite in his two runs this time in but has had a couple of excuses in those. He can bounce back. WELLINGTON (2) resumes from a spell and was no match for them at Royal Ascot over the winter but was excellent in elite company at Sha Tin all through the 2022/23 season and might be the danger. DUKE WAI (4) is a veteran that keeps racing well and can fill the minors. SIGHT SUCCESS (3) gained the prize in narrow fashion ahead of Lucky Sweynesse on October 22 and is 4kg worse off at the weights for a narrow margin.

Selections: 1-2-4-3

Race 8

A small but select field of five runners step out in the Jockey Club Mile and it is CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (1) that they have to beat. He was a drifter when resuming but got away with a cheap time of it in front before defeating Encountered. The Tony Cruz-trained galloper will strip fitter for this and is a clear top pick. BEAUTY ETERNAL (5) closed off well that day to finish 3rd and will be an improver at his second run back. Expect him to throw out the challenge in the straight. HEALTHY HAPPY (3) is a last start winner of the Celebration Cup (1400m) when leading all the way and might tuck in behind California Spangle. BEAUTY JOY (2) gets the nod over Voyage Bubble for a first four finish.

Selections: 1-5-3-2

Race 9

The last of the three feature races is the Jockey Club Cup. NIMBLE NIMBUS (9) gets his chance at this level and was excellent when running on to fill the exacta behind Rising From Ashes over the 1800m here on October 22. The Ricky Yiu-trained galloper draws to save ground from the inside barrier. A few of these come out of the Sa Sa Ladies Purse (1800m) on October 5. LA CITY BLANCHE (8) ran on well for 3rd in that race and draws much better than his last attempt at the 2000m at Sha Tin. MONEY CATCHER (3) led them up in that race but will strip fitter for this and can stick on. RUSSIAN EMPEROR (1) can be an improver out to the 2000m.

Selections: 9-8-3-1

Race 10

NORTHERN BEACHES (8) can be an improver in Race 10. The four-year-old was posted wide without cover when 8th here on November 5 but was a narrow runner-up at the track and trip prior to that. Purton rides and will look to push up from the barrier. There are four ex-Aussie horses that make their local debut in this race and CELESTIAL COLOURS (2) has the pick of the trial form. He was a Rosehill winner earlier this year before being sent over. GALAXY PATCH (4) is another that can improve and was 5th when resuming here in October. The Pierre Ng-trained galloper won his only other three career starts and has had a winning trial in the interim. CALIFORNIA VANES (12) should be thereabouts.

Selections: 8-2-4-12

Race 11

We close off with a Class 3 over the 1400m and GOLDEN SAMURAI (7) can end the day a winner. The five-year-old resumed with a 4th at the track and trip on October 22 and had a few things go against at either end of that run. He will settle handy from the barrier and should fight out the finish. TAMRA BLITZ (5) will be out to turn the tables on MASSIVE ACTION (6) after going down to that horse on October 22. The Douglas Whyte-trained galloper was fresh that day and meets the winner 2.5kg for a one length margin. Monitor betting for SIMPLE HEDGE (4). He resumes and closed off lasts season with a couple of wins.