Designs On Rome Trials Towards Comeback

Former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) pleased his trainer John Moore and jockey Joao Moreira when an unextended sixth in a Tuesday morning barrier trial over the Sha Tin dirt surface. The 5-year-old, who underwent surgery to remove chips in both fetlocks in the off-season, will return to action in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Mile Nov. 21, which will serve as a prep for a defense of his title in the 2000-meter G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin Dec. 13.

Drawn outside in a field of 11 that also included Hong Kong’s top dirt horse Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), Designs On Rome lagged back in about ninth position down the back while ridden reasonably quietly by Moreira. Pulled out into the stretch, he made up steady ground to finish three lengths in back of the winner and galloped out with good energy into the backstretch (video). Gun Pit, heading towards the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Dec. 6, finished well to be second.

“I’m delighted with Designs On Rome, that was a good trial,” said Moore. “Joao came in with a big smile on his face saying that the race on the 21st will just top him off. Everything’s going to plan. Going to the Hong Kong Cup one run in, that’s not a problem.

Moore continued, “He’ll run third or fourth in the Mile–he’ll get home strong. He’s looking very sound after surgery and, that being the case, we’ll take him through to December and he should be as competitive as he has been in the past. He’s not carrying condition, I know his bodyweight and he was kicking his brand off when he came back in, he was half ready to cow-kick. That’s a really good sign.”

The 2014 Hong Kong Derby winner, Designs On Rome was just up to best Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in a thrilling renewal of the Hong Kong Cup last December and took the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup two starts later. A creditable fourth behind Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) in a paceless renewal of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 28, the Moyglare Stud-bred gelding was a below-par fourth when last seen in the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin Apr. 26.