With their flight set to depart Chek Lap Kok International Airport this coming Saturday, all seven of the Hong Kong-based runners for the Dubai World Cup program tuned up to varying degrees Tuesday morning at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Prepping for a start in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at about 12 furlongs on the turf, reigning Horse of the Year Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) galloped six furlongs in the company of stakes-winning stablemate Same World (GB) (Hawk Wing), covering the entire distance in 1:19.1 with an ultimate 400 meters in :24 flat.
“He's right on song for the Dubai assault,” said trainer John Moore. “His work was impressive this morning and [jockey Joao] Moreira commented that he doesn't need much more. We would like to go over to Dubai a little on the bigger side because we know they lose weight on these excursions. For that reason I've put a little bit of bodyweight on to him and hopefully that will counteract that. His groom will go with him because, as we all know, he's a character–he's got attitude. If he travels well and everything goes to plan he has got to be in there with a nice chance of winning it.”
Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of three heading to the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and the veteran shows little signs of slowing down, as he came from about midfield to win a 1200-meter barrier trial over the all-weather track by a half-length in 1:10.07 (video). The Darley-bred gelding was third in the 2012 Shaheen over the Tapeta track. Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), last year's Shaheen runner-up, but unraced since bleeding in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, worked over the weekend and flashed home in :22.5 to close out a 1200-meter gallop.
Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {GB}) also trialled Tuesday as he gets set to tackle defending champion Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint up the 1000-meter straight course. The 4-year-old led throughout from gate two, taking his 1050-meter trial over the all-weather by three-parts of a length (video) while never changing his leads late. Amber Sky worked over 800 meters Monday (:27.2, :23.7), while Bundle of Joy (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) covered the same distance (:24.9, :23.3) with jockey Joao Moreira in the irons.
In related news, Amber Sky will now be ridden in the Al Quoz by Ryan Moore. Moreira, who had the victorious ride last year, had committed early to Bundle of Joy, and Ricky Yiu originally reached out to Christophe Soumillon. The Belgian advised Sunday that he would be riding Via Africa (SAf) (Var) for Mike de Kock, and Yiu was able to scoop up the services of Moore.
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