By Alan Carasso
In his formative days as a 4-year-old of 2014, Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) proved a horse that had to be ridden just so. It took some time to figure him out, a great deal of the credit for which goes to Australian jockey Tommy Berry, who rode the horse with increasing precision to wins over superstar Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby after dropping a narrow decision in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. At the behest of the gelding's owner, Berry is back in the saddle for Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Victorious in this event last season, Designs on Rome is winless in five subsequent tries and is still in search of his best form since having surgery on both front fetlocks last spring. His efforts have not been without merit, as he finished well, but belatedly, to be fourth to loose-on-the-lead A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in defense of his G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup title in December and finished willingly to be eighth, but beaten just over two lengths, behind Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) in the G1 Stewards' Cup Jan. 31. Some are critical of his most recent barrier trial over a 1000-metre distance that is too sharp, but his trainer is not among them.
“I know some people were saying he didn't look very good but you have to remember he got detached from an inside position over 1000 metres and I didn't want him knocked round,” commented John Moore, who also saddles Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal) and Helene Happy Star (Ire) (Zamindar). “I just wanted him to have a blow, which he did. The trial did its job and he's pulled up very well after it.”
One of the most versatile horses in Hong Kong, Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) will also benefit from a stretchout back to the metric 10 furlongs. Third in last year's Gold Cup, the 7-year-old filled the same spot in the Hong Kong Cup two back and closed off nicely to be fifth in the Stewards' Cup, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.
Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) took out the 2014 Gold Cup and defeated Blazing Speed in the G2 Jockey Club Cup over the course and trip ahead of sixth-place efforts in the Hong Kong Cup and in the Stewards' Cup. The race's 'dark horse' was meant to be Secret Weapon (GB) (Choisir {Aus}), who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when storming home from a seemingly impossible spot to win the Centenary Vase H. un der 115 pounds Feb. 6. He would appear to have something to find with the jurisdiction's best horses over 2000 meters, but he's been bet hard ante-post as the $36 (13-5) favorite.
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