Designs on Rome Wins Hong Kong Gold Cup
Saturday’s dominating win in the Hong Kong Gold Cup marked Design on Rome’s second international Group 1 score of this racing season, and made a clear statement that he is fit and ready for the Dubai Sheema Classic later this month at Meydan Race Course.
Contested at 2000m (nearly 10 furlongs), the 2015 Hong Kong Gold Cup was elevated to international Group 1 status and accompanied by a $10 Million HKD purse. Designs on Rome entered this race off a gritty win in the 1800m Centenary Vase Handicap where he carried the heavy load of 133 lbs.
Settling second last in the field of nine that included former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Military Attack and multiple Group 1 winner California Memory, Designs on Rome bid his time behind the pedestrian early fractions set by Khaya. As the tempo quickened with a half mile to go, jockey Joao Moreira guided his mount to the outside and let him begin to lengthen his stride. At the 200m pole it was clear that Designs on Rome was going to win the Gold Cup, and under urging he pulled clear by 1 ¼ lengths over Helene Super Star, while clocking :22.08 for the final ¼ mile.
Winner of 6 races on the card (which ties a Hong Kong Jockey Club record), Moreira was confident that he was riding the best horse, but insisted that this win wasn’t easy for the five-year-old Holy Roman Emperor gelding. “I wouldn’t say that was easy because I really had to ride strongly all the way to the line,” Moreira stated, “But he’s such an honest horse and keeps 110% of himself in the straight. With a furlong to go I knew we were going to win, but I wanted to push him to the line and celebrate almost as we crossed the line.”
Trainer John Moore was humbled after the race, with this win making the 10th time he has captured the Gold Cup. When questioned about the Sheema Classic, Moore responded, “Well as I said going into the race that he was the fittest he’s been all season and he showed everybody just that. We’ll have him in the same condition when we present him for the 2400m race in Dubai.”
Designs on Rome has only covered the distance of 2400m once in his career, which was last year’s G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup. He finished fifth, but still went on to be named the 2013/2014 Hong Kong Horse of the Year following his wins in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, Hong Kong Derby, and APQEII Cup. Also expected to contest the Sheema Classic is US turf champion Main Sequence.