Designs On Rome is “on the right track” to defend his title in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 13 December after pleasing connections in an all-weather barrier trial this morning, his first since minor surgery late last season.
The former Hong Kong Horse of the Year had bone chips removed from both front fetlocks back in May, following a below-par fourth in the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m). This morning’s trial over 1200 metres showed the five-year-old to be in good heart, prompting trainer John Moore and jockey Joao Moreira to react positively.
“I’m delighted with Designs On Rome, that was a good trial,” said Moore. “Joao came in with a big smile on his face saying that the race on the 21st will just top him off. Everything’s going to plan. Going to the Hong Kong Cup one run in, that’s not a problem.”
With a first-up start in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile on 21 November to aim at, Designs On Rome travelled ninth of 11 under Moreira who lightly niggled his mount on the turn. The Holy Roman Emperor gelding closed off soundly in the home stretch to run past the post an easy sixth, three lengths off the trial winner, Bullish Friend.
“He’ll run third or fourth in the Mile - he’ll get home strong,” said Moore. “He’s looking very sound after surgery and, that being the case, we’ll take him through to December and he should be as competitive as he has been in the past. He’s not carrying condition, I know his bodyweight and he was kicking his brand off when he came back in, he was half ready to cow-kick. That’s a really good sign.
“Of course, it’s a week to week thing but with respect to soundness since the surgery, there have been no issues. You don't know for sure until you go and trial them but I’m not expecting any issues.”
Moreira was satisfied with his mount, on whom he captured the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) as well as the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup last term.
“I think he’s on the right track to be ready on the big day,” said the Brazilian. “He’s not there yet but he’s coming good and I think he should run a very good race on the 21st. After that he should be pretty much ready for the big one.”
In the same 1200m heat, Zac Purton gave Gun Pit a spin ahead of his first-up run in a Class 1 1650m all-weather race at Sha Tin on Wednesday, 18 November. Trainer Caspar Fownes has that race pinned as the dirt track specialist’s prep for the G1 Champions Cup (1800m, dirt) at Chukyo, Japan on 6 December.
Gun Pit travelled smoothly through the trial, running home easily without pressure to cross the line a short-head second in 1m 10.31s.
“He went well,” said Purton. “He knows his job pretty well on the surface. He just ambled up to them and he was waiting for me to give him the signal. He did what he needed to do, he had a nice little blow and he feels really good. I’m looking forward to seeing him back at the races. He’ll run on the Wednesday night and then, all being well, he goes to Japan after that.”
