DESIGNS ON ROME – HK
Had been scheduled to go on the turf this morning but trainer John Moore opted to switch to regular work on the all-weather. Cantered on the small all-weather track.
“Designs On Rome’s good, I don’t overstretch him because of his little issues, but he’s never missed a day’s work. Boy, he’s tough. He’s like a prizefighter, he keeps getting off the canvas and showing up. He’s an amazing horse.”
DICTON – FR
Two laps at a walk and slow canter under work rider Aude Duporte.
Laura Dell’Elce, assistant to trainer Gianluca Bietolini, said: “He just needed to stretch his legs this morning and he will probably have just the one gallop between now and Sunday’s race.”
NEOREALISM – JPN
Japan’s big hope, the Noriyuki Hori-trained G2 winner, undertook easy exercise in the trotting ring this morning.
Work rider Shinjiro Kaneko said: “As planned, we gave him an easy workout to stretch his legs and help him relax in the trotting ring. He was not tense, he was very settled. He is doing well at this stage.”
SECRET WEAPON – HK
G1 Hong Kong Cup runner-up worked 1200m on the turf course in 1m 17.3s (26.0 27.2 24.1) under big-race rider Zac Purton.
Trainer Dennis Yip said: “Everything is good with him. He just did a little bit this morning to help his fitness because he missed a few days’ work after his last race. He had some hard races so the plan has been to keep him happy and keep him fresh for this race.”
Purton said: “We worked over 1200m. It wasn’t a strong piece of work, it was just to keep him ticking over. He’s not the best moving horse, he never has been, he had a nice stretch and he feels good. He had a good blow afterwards, which showed that he needed it.”
WERTHER – HK
Had been scheduled to go on the turf this morning but trainer John Moore opted to switch to regular work on the all-weather. Cantered on the small all-weather track.
“Werther has had the mile run (G2 Chairman’s Trophy) recently; he got home really strongly with Sam (Clipperton) aboard. I couldn’t be happier. He didn’t need the work this morning (on the turf), he didn’t need the extra gallop, I’ll go straight to Thursday and he’ll go about 28 (seconds) on the turf. He’s humming at the moment.”
