Designs on Rome repeats in Hong Kong Gold Cup

It took 4 races after surgery, but in a repeat effort in the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup, Designs on Rome was able to defend his title in the Group 1 event. Ridden to perfection by Tommy Berry, Designs on Rome circled the field on the turn and was able to hold off the persistent Helene Happy Star. Stopping the clock in 2:01.51 for 2000m event, the win marked Design on Rome’s first since this race one year ago.

It had been a rough season for the 6-year-old gelded son of Holy Roman Emperor. After a failed trip to Dubai last spring and coming up flat in the APQEII Cup, it was soon discovered that he had small bone chips in both forelegs, which had to be removed. After the arthroscopic procedure and a summer vacation in Australia, he returned to training with hopes on regaining his championship form. Three off the board finishes into the season, some were questioning if he ever would.

Trainer John Moore never lost faith in his old companion, and continued to train him toward the end of year championship races. Also the trainer of superstar Able Friend, who is out for the year with a ligament injury, Moore is delighted to have his former stable star back in the spotlight.  

Tommy Berry has now piloted Designs on Rome to five victories in Hong Kong, four of which have been at the highest level. When rounding the turn into the stretch, he started urging his mount nearly 600m from the wire. Worried about not being able to close on the other talented horses in the race, he asked Rome for everything he had, and the mount responded in kind. The two have been paired in 4 of the 6 Group 1 victories of the veteran horse.

Despite a poor barrier trial last week, and not showing the fire he’s had in previous seasons, Designs on Rome still was able to muster enough confidence in bettors to be the second favorite at post time. He rewarded his backers to $44 HKD for a $10 bet. As of now, there’s no intention for Designs on Rome to repeat his journey to Dubai as he did last year, and he will next be pointed to the APQEII Cup at the end of April. The win brings Design on Rome’s earnings total to $58,549,325 HKD, which is just above $7.5 million USD.

Later in the card came the thrilling 1400m Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, which was absent of the aforementioned Able Friend. This has caused quite a stirring of the ranks of Hong Kong’s second glamour division, as no clear front runner has emerged as a favorite for year end honors. Contentment has made his name heard.

Now 5 for 6 at the 7 furlong distance, he appears to be a horse for the course. Settling just off the flank of the pace setter, Contentment tracked the leader under new rider, Brett Prebble, with hopes of pouncing away from the field as they turned for home. His strategy paid off stopping the clock in 1:21.24, for the first Group 1 win of his career.

The win brought his 3rd stakes victory of the season in 7 starts, while he has finished off the board only once. If his form can carry him to a win in the Champions Mile or any of the other Sprint Championship series, year end honors could be headed his way. Also hoping to make a stake at the championship claim is Gold Fun, who finished fourth in today’s race. This marked the worst finish in the last 14 months of racing, but there is no doubt that this consistent sprinter/miler still has some gas left in the tank for the rest of the spring.

Stewards’ Cup winner Giant Treasure, another hopeful for the miler championship was tested over 2 turns in the Gold Cup where he flattened to finish a disappointing ninth. This was to be a decision maker for the journey to Dubai for the a shot at the Turf, and now his connections will have some decisions to make before the $6M USD contest at the end of the month.