Hong Kong Heavies Back to Work

While some of the top sprinters kicked off this past Wednesday, today’s Celebration Cup H. marks the return of a good number of Hong Kong’s top middle-distance horses, both new and old.

Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) began what would become a Horse of the Year campaign by taking the final two legs of the 4-year-old series with a sensational victory in the Hong Kong Derby and announced his arrival on the international scene with a neck defeat of Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in his next start. He was expected to close the season in similar fashion when trying 2400 meters in the Champions and Chater Cup May 25, but was a no-show that day when fifth to Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) as the 2-5 favorite. With that effort four months in the rear-view, connections look to make a fresh start at a distance well short of his best.

“He hasn’t trialled and the 1400 meters will be sharp for him, so that’s a little concern as he’s a distance horse, but he’s fresh and he’s well,” said Mauritian rider Karis Teetan, who rode Designs On Rome in his first two starts last term. “I gave him a piece of work from the 1800-meter start the other day and he really enjoyed it, so in himself, body-wise and health-wise, he’s really well,” said the rider, who has partnered the Holy Roman Emperor gelding in each of his last three pieces of fast work.

Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}), last year’s champion miler, won this event last year first-up when it was contested as the National Day Cup and went on to win the G2 Jockey Club Cup ahead of a runner-up effort in the G1 Hong Kong Mile in December. The flashy chestnut took a salty renewal of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup in March, but makes his first start since a fifth to Variety Club (SAf) (Var) in the G1 Champions Mile May 4.

Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) upset the 2013 G1 Hong Kong Vase and was a deceptively good fifth to Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic en route to local champion stayer honors. 

Two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}) is approaching nine years of age, but retains a zest for racing and resumes here with December’s G1 Hong Kong Cup in mind, a race he won in 2011 and 2012.