Designs On Rome ready to run a big race in Hong Kong Gold Cup
Trainer John Moore says his former Hong Kong horse of the year is primed to win back-to-back Cups after a nice piece of solo work before Sunday’s feature at Sha Tin
Buoyed by Designs On Rome’s strong final gallop on Friday morning, John Moore believes his former horse of the year is on track for back-to-back wins in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Unplaced in three runs this term after arthroscopic surgery late last season, Designs On Rome put concerns over an unconvincing recent trial to rest with a nice piece of solo work before Sunday’s
HK$10 million feature at Sha Tin.
He is right where we want him, he stretched out well and we’ve got high hopes he can repeat
“He is right where we want him, he stretched out well and we’ve got high hopes he can repeat,” Moore said. “Forget the trial, he was out in gate one over the 1,000m and we didn’t want him knocked around. The most important thing is that the joints are holding up really well, he hasn’t had a day of lameness.”
In-form jockey Tommy Berry will fly in from Australia to reunite with Designs On Rome for the first time since 2014, the pair having won three consecutive Group Ones together during the Irish import’s amazing four-year-old season.
“It was the owner’s decision to bring Tommy back on, the other jockeys had done nothing wrong, he just wanted to put that partnership back together,” said Moore, who has Joao Moreira on Helene Happy Star, with Karis Teetan switching to Group One-winner Dan Excel after riding Designs On Rome last start.
While Designs On Rome, who usually drops to the tail of the field, drew well in five, Dan Excel and Helene Happy Star drew far more awkwardly in nine and 11 respectively.
“Those gates aren’t exactly ideal from the 2,000m start but this the ideal distance for both of them and I am expecting a forward showing,” Moore said.
If Dan Excel runs well Moore confirmed the eight-year-old would go to Dubai and run on dirt in the
US$1 million Group Two Godolphin Mile later next month.
“Dan Excel’s owner David Boehm has given the go-ahead to go to Dubai and I am expecting the horse to run well and confirm his place. He will be up in his usual spot close to the lead, and the way he is going he will be hard to run down. His trial was very encouraging and I am looking forward to getting him over there on that surface at Meydan. Being the tough 2,000m horse that he is, I think he will take some beating in that race as well.”
Moore also confirmed Ryan Moore would ride sprinter Not Listenin’tome at Meydan in the
US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint but was waiting for confirmation as to whether the champion English jockey could also take the ride on Dan Excel on the same night.
