Designs On Rome showed once again that he is a superstar with a street fighter’s grit as he warmed up for next month’s G1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), and a future date in Dubai, with a last stride victory in the HKG3 Centenary Vase (Handicap) this afternoon, Saturday, 7 February.
Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year seems to know the exact position of the Sha Tin winning post. After mugging Military Attack close home to win the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December, Designs On Rome was at it once more, thrusting out his indefatigable head to snatch victory in the final stride of today’s 1800m contest, and that despite carrying top-weight of 131lb.
“He’s all heart, he just doesn’t like getting beaten,” said trainer John Moore, who is plotting a raid on Meydan’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at the end of March.
Jockey Joao Moreira had Designs On Rome racing second-last in the 10-runner feature – which did not feature eve-of-race withdrawal Military Attack – as Khaya (113lb) led the field along. At the 900m mark, Moreira’s arms began to work. At 700m the Brazilian switched wide, his arms now pumping, as the five-year-old set off on his trademark long-run for home.
At the top of the stretch Khaya began to falter under Karis Teetan, and, with 250m to race, it was the winner’s stablemate, Dominant, that hit the front. In behind, the Andreas Schutz-trained Packing Llaregyb (113lb) quickened to challenge: the equal bottom-weight pressed the lead a fraction ahead of the eventual winner. But Designs On Rome’s pugilistic persona rose to the fore and one final drive snared the win by a short-head in 1m 47.26s. It was the same distance back to Dominant (121lb) in third, with Helene Super Star (113lb) another short-head fourth and Khaya a further half-length back in fifth.
“The horse was slightly underdone going into that, even though his work going into it was very good,” said Moore, who has saddled the Irish-bred to seven wins from 14 Hong Kong starts, including two at the very highest level. “He had a good blow after the race and we’re now going into the Hong Kong Gold Cup as raging favourite. The Gold Cup should just top him off nicely for the Sheema Classic.”
The Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup on 1 March is the second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown series and this year the race will be staged for the first time as an international G1 contest, with a purse of HK$10 million.
“I think if this horse comes out and wins the Gold Cup he will go to the Sheema Classic as one of the favourites,” said Moore of last year’s HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hero. “We still have to travel him though and he still has to do everything right; there’s still a lot of things we have to get right before he hits the racecourse over there in Dubai. From my point of view, if he can present himself a fitter horse than what he was today, we’ll be in with a live chance.”
Dominant will now head south. The 2013 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) victor has Australia on his agenda with the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill his planned first stop.
“I was surprised Dominant was able to lay up so close, he’s never been able to do it in the past and today was the first day he really fought on,” said Moore. “He’ll fly to Australia on 2 March and compete in the Ranvet Stakes and then on to either the QE or the Sydney Cup.
“Judging on a run like that, and taking into consideration that he was carrying a bit of condition today, I’m really thrilled with the run. To finish third at an inappropriate distance gives me even more hope for him. When Nash Rawiller got off him he said ‘this horse will take a bit of beating in the Ranvet’ and that’s what I want to hear from jockeys. So far, so good and I’m a very happy trainer,” said Moore.
Moreira was in treble form, winning Race 6 on the Benno Yung-trained Startling Power and Race 9 on the John Size-trained Red Dancer. The Premiership leader now has 68 for the season, 23 ahead of his nearest pursuer, Zac Purton.
It was Champion Jockey Purton who carried off the day’s other notable contest though, the Singapore Turf Club Trophy (Handicap). The Australian was able to relax close home after the Yung-trained Golden Deer had drawn clear of his field to register a length and a quarter success.
Mr Tan Guong Ching, Chairman of the Singapore Turf Club, was on hand to present the winner’s trophy to the successful owner.
Purton ended the day with a double thanks to an earlier win on Supreme Profit in race 5, while Derek Leung also notched two as Fay Deep took the second and Lovely Naughty scored in the fourth.
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Photo 1:
Photos 1, 2: John Moore-trained Designs On Rome (No. 2) with Joao Moreira in the saddle wins the Centenary Vase (HKG3-1800m) at Sha Tin Racecourse today.
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Photo 2
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Photo 3:
Connections of Designs On Rome celebrate their victory at the winners' circle after the race.
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Photo 4:
Photos 4, 5, 6: The Hon Sir CK Chow, a Steward of the HKJC, presents the Centenary Vase Trophy to Cheng Keung Fai, winning owner of Designs On Rome, as well as silver dishes to trainer John Moore and jockey Joao Moreira.
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Photo 5
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Photo 6
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Photo 7:
HKJC Stewards, Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and winning connections of Designs On Rome take a group photo at the presentation ceremony of the Centenary Vase.
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