Hong Kong Trio Working for the Weekend

Led by reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), three of the more prominent chances for Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races got in their final serious pieces of work over the Sha Tin turf course Tuesday morning. 

A leading contender for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, Designs on Rome made his way onto the flood-lit turf course just after 6 a.m. and, with big-race rider Joao Moreira in the irons, worked over 1200 meters in sectionals of :26 and :29.1 before finishing his final quarter-mile in a slick :23.2 for a composite time of 1:18.2. 

Alongside Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) and former stablemate Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), Designs on Rome is the joint-highest rated horse in the field on a ranking of 123, based mostly on his thrilling victory over Military Attack in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over this course and 2000-meter distance last April. The Moyglare Stud-bred gelding has lost four straight since that effort, including a close fifth to Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 23. 

Stablemate Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) is looking to rediscover the form that saw him cause an upset in last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase and breezed 1200 meters in the company of his Cup-bound stable companion Same World (GB) (Hawk Wing) in 1:19.2. With Moreira calling the shots, the longer-winded Dominant went in fractions of :27.4 and :28.6 before coming home in :23.2. 

“I’m happy with that,” said Moore. “They all worked well and both Dominant and Designs on Rome will go out again on Friday. I’ll put them on the all-weather on Friday and they’ll both go three-quarter pace. 

Moreira was satisfied with the work too. 

“Designs on Rome worked really well this morning on the grass. We went quite a strong gallop–they had a little bit of a slow but it’s like we just adjusted the screws and I’m very happy with the way he pulled up, and I’m sure he’s going to be ready on Sunday. Dominant crossed the line full of himself and he probably worked the best of them so I’m looking forward to him on the weekend. He’s definitely going to be a good ride.” 

Trainer Richard Gibson, who sent out Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to a popular victory in the 2013 Hong Kong Cup, gave champion miler Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) a 1200-meter gallop on the grass, which was accomplished in a leisurely overall clocking of 1:24.5, but more importantly finished with a smart final 400 meters in :22.8. 

“He felt great, his action was clean and he felt pretty sharp,” said jockey Douglas Whyte of the 5-year-old, who was runner-up to Glorious Days (Aus) (Hussonet) in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Mile.