Mossman Blitz is bred to go higher
Manfred Man Ka-leung left Happy Valley with his head held high on Wednesday night after exacting an elusive win out of My Mate Adric in the Class Three Kwong Tin Handicap, and the trainer should look forward to a future win with progressive Mossman Blitz following a positive performance in the Class Four Ping Shek Handicap (1,650m).
Mossman Blitz wasn't too far behind in two earlier starts for a one-paced, 3 3/4-length 10th behind Oriental Courser over the 1,000m at Happy Valley under the guidance of Jacky Tong Chi-kit on November 17, before plugging on to finish three lengths back of Crown Witness in seventh over the 1,400m at Sha Tin on December 4 for Ben So Ting-hung, each time after a moderate break.
Man required a better assessment of Mossman Blitz for his third run and Olivier Doleuze was called into action on board the 14-1 shot. Mossman Blitz was unable to slot in for cover at any point after springing the gates nicely from stall nine, rolled forward to assume a position in second behind a dawdling pace at the 1,200m, rounded the final bend two off the fence before giving away over the final 50m for a 21/4-length fifth behind the front-running winner Splendid Champion.
The four-year-old is a son of Mossman - a four-time winner from 1,200m to 2,050m, including the QTC Queensland Classic and MVRC AAMI Vase - and the useful Zabeel mare Zexzabeel, a winner of four at 2,100m and 2,200m and twice Group Two placed in the Southern Hemisphere. He's a half-brother to two winners from two starters over varying distances of 1,200m to 1,800m.
Mossman Blitz has a pedigree to tackle a sprint-to-mile distance with a good possibility of developing into a middle-distance performer when he fully matures.
It remains a forgettable season for Paul O'Sullivan with only a single winner from 33 meetings, but Soviet Pearl looks a winner waiting to happen after running home strongly between runners at the 150m to come up short behind Flying Supreme in the Choi Ying Handicap (1,650m).
Soviet Pearl appears to be coming to hand nicely after three earlier runs at Sha Tin against some big names following a smart first season with four wins at both courses.
Others to note are Supreme Tycoon (race two), who had a torrid run before flashing home for third, and Boss (race six), who is finally turning the corner.
Nice prospect
Mossman Blitz has been showing improvement in each start, his latest run a close fifth (lengths): 2 1/4
Ready to deliver
Soviet Pearl indicated he is ready to win again when flashing home in (final 400m): 22.65
