Mossman is a class act

John Size-trained horses usually make a successful transition from Happy Valley to Sha Tin, but King Mossman should take his form on the bigger track successfully to the Valley for the Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup (1,000m).

Although described as a Class One, the Cup is a Class Two in reality and King Mossman (Douglas Whyte) rises from his win over 1,200m Bear Hero in Class Three on opening day at Sha Tin as the fit, progressive horse and drops sharply in the weights.

Punters were probably a touch disappointed by Bear Hero's only defeat that day at odds-on, but King Mossman is no slouch himself and a winning entry to the higher grade should confirm that.

Size often takes less inexperienced horses to the close quarters and frequent turns of the Valley to bring on their mental development, so King Mossman is an exception..

He has done all his racing at Sha Tin, where he has been a thorough professional in racking up a record of five starts for two wins and two seconds, though he hasn't been to Happy Valley even for a barrier trial and his wins have been 1,200m. However, his unplaced run was a debut fourth over 1,000m behind Eagle Regiment in May, when the sprinter wasn't ready, and his subsequent second to speedy Space Race down the straight were nice guides to his ability to come back in distance.

King Mossman has always shown good early speed and that will be important, not only because the Valley rewards early speed generally, but because this race is going to feature a sizzling tempo and those lacking some toe to the first turn could find themselves run out of it by the time they get balanced.

Romantic City (Alvin Ng Ka-chun) is probably the fastest horse out of the gates, who has won his four successes by simply running the opposition into the ground.