Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 07/01/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Sunday, January 7

Our form expert provides Hong Kong tips for today’s horse racing at Sha Tin Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 10:  No.5  HELIOS EXPRESS  ($2.70 with bet365)

John Size and Hugh Bowman combine here with HELIOS EXPRESS who is yet to miss a podium finish in six career-starts and third-up here, looks a serious contender for the major prize today. Last start, the Toronado gelding came off a first-up win when he finished a close-up third in Class 2 company, here over 1400m. Settling second-last, a dozen lengths off the speed and caught three-deep to the turn, under Brenton Avdulla, he did a mighty job (all things considered) to grab the minor money on the line. Drawn much better in gate five today, he maps to do little early work and should settle near mid-field with cover. Bowman pilot’s the four-year-old for the first time and with a trouble-free run here, he can bounce back and bring up win number four on the Sha Tin track.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.8  INVINCIBLE SAGE  ($3.20 with bet365)

The Tony Cruz-trained INVINCIBLE SAGE is unbeaten in three starts this campaign and with all three of those victories coming on this track, its almost impossible to tip against here today. Last start, the Australian-bred gelding celebrated the hat-trick by beating home his Class 2 rivals, here over the 1000m sprint. Under pressure from the 200m mark, Zac Purton just kept on pushing him and he responded well to Purton’s riding and was holding them over the final 50m. With Purton being granted a leave of absence (until Jan 13), the pressure will be on (replacement rider) Alex Badel to keep the winning streak going here today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 9:  No.8  THE HEIR  ($3.60 with bet365)

Former Australian galloper, THE HEIR is now in the hands of Caspar Fownes and after a successful transition to the Hong Kong racing scene, he looks ready to post his first win on the Sha Tin track. Last start, he kept his good record going by making it three-straight podium finishes when he beat home all but the first two past the post in a Class 3, here over 1400m. Racing as Watch The Clock in Australia (before making the move here) he won his last two races there (at Warwick Farm and Randwick) and appears to have brought that form with him here. Already a 1400m specialist (with two wins and as many minor placings from five starts at the trip), he will again be taken back from his wide gate today but even fitter for those three runs back, he should play a major role in the finish of this contest.