Tuchel looking for hat-trick at Sha Tin

We have a rare Friday meeting in Hong Kong today, the 25th Anniversary Hong Kong Reunification Raceday at Sha Tin.

There's a host of talent stepping out across the 10-race card, and of those, is promising three-year-old Tuchel who chases a hat-trick of wins in the Class 3 1600m Handicap (race 9).

Debuting for the John Size yard in midMay, Tuchel took a couple of runs to get going - albeit they were over an unsuitable 1200m - but stepping up to 1400m third-up saw him find the winner's enclosure for the first time.

Overcoming barrier No 12, the Redwood gelding drew away by two lengths, with his final 200m the most visually impressive part of the performance and he really knuckled down with purpose.

Tuchel turned in a repeat performance last start, emerging from the ruck inside the 300m to put paid on the runner-up by 2.25 lengths.

The rise in class and distance will be Tuchel's acid test, but he looks good enough to offset both, with the extra 200m looking right up his alley to suit his turnof-foot. Another smart three-year-old steps out in the Class 4 1200m (Race 8), Beauty Tycoon, who is looking to get on the board for the first time in his career.

Beauty Tycoon is at his fourth start of trying this week and is off the back of two narrow defeats into second place.

At this track and distance 12 days ago, when sent out the $1.70 favourite, he jumped from barrier No 13 and had little luck in running, heavily restrained in the early and middle stages and settling too far back while racing keenly.

Still, he let down swiftly in the straight and only missed by 0.50 lengths to the winner, California Vanes, who had the perfect run in transit from a low draw.

He meets a very moderate Class 4 field this week and should take a power of beating as he comes into a much lower draw in stall No 4.

The likes of Spartan Missile, drawn well in barrier No 1, can run well second-up off a good run into second place, which was his first start for the David Hall yard. Caspar Fownes' entrant, Amazing Innovator, was an eye-catcher on debut and should also be running well, up in trip for his second-up assignment.