from RACING POST HKJohn 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.

from RACING POST HK

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.

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai looks to have declared his hand tactically by engaging the 10-pound claiming jockey and expect Romantic City to come out screaming for the lead.

From gate five, he is going to be hard to head off but he has some other quick opposition, including Amadeo (Brett Doyle), whose style mirrors his own. Even At Moment In Time, Bould Mover, Golden Bauhinia and Good Boy Boy have plenty of speed.

From gate three, King Mossman should have enough pace for Whyte to camp on the heels of the front-runners, then join in as the early speed tells and they become leg weary.

With his tremendous pace, Romantic City and Amadeo must have a good winning claims, but the race pattern will also suit Golden Bauhinia (Tim Clark).