Despite racing at a distance short of his optimal and despite giving some accomplished rivals a double-digit break in the weights in Saturday's Centenary Vase H. at Sha Tin, Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) asserted his class to lead for the first and only time on the wire in the first of a two-race bulid-up prior to an expected appearance in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 28.
Third to the top local miler Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) in the Oct. 5 Celebration Cup H. over 1400 meters, Designs On Rome was a dull eighth to Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the Sha Tin Trophy H. going a mile three weeks hence, but finished fast to finish less than a length behind Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in fifth in the G2 Jockey Club Cup over his preferred 2000-meter trip Nov. 23. That set him up perfectly for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 14, and Joao Moreira timed his move just right to nail Military Attack on the money.
With the latter scratched Friday by trainer Caspar Fownes, Designs On Rome was the starting highweight on 131 pounds and settled near the back of the pack, while on the front end, Helene Super Star (War Front) led before being headed by the slow-starting Khaya (NZ) (Librettist) after 600 meters. Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}), the 2013 G1 Hong Kong Vase upsetter, was handier to the pace than normal, while Packing Llaregyb (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) saved ground to his inside. Khaya, third in this year's Hong Kong Vase, took them into the turn, but Moreira began to get after the favorite a little more than 600 meters out, with Vase runner-up Willie Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules) following that move. They fanned out into the stretch, with Khaya holding a tenuous lead, but Dominant and Endowing (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) looking dangerous three and four away from the rail, respectively, and Designs On Rome widest of all. Dominant poked his head in front about 150 meters from home and Packing Llaregyb found a split between horses to lead for a fraction of a second, but Designs On Rome knows where the post is and dropped his head down first.
“He's all heart, he just doesn't like getting beaten,” said trainer John Moore. “The horse was slightly underdone going into that, even though his work going into it was very good. He had a good blow after the race and we're now going into the [2000-meter G1] Hong Kong Gold Cup [Mar. 1] as raging favourite. The Gold Cup should just top him off nicely for the Sheema Classic.”
Moore was also pleased with the performance of Dominant.
“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,” Moore explained.
Dominant has a foreign itinerary of his own, as he leaves Hong Kong for Australia Mar. 2. His first target is the G1 Ranvet S. Mar. 21 before an appearance at The Championships in either the G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. (2000 meters) or the G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200 meters) Apr. 11. Click for the HKJC.com result and HKJC.com PPs. VIDEO.
Saturday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY VASE H., HK$2,750,000 (US$354,752), Sha Tin, 2-7, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:47.26, gd/fm.
1–DESIGNS ON ROME (IRE), 131, g, 5, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Summer Trysting, by Alleged. (€18,000 RNA yrl '11 GOFSPT). O-Cheng Keung Fai; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Joao Moreira; Lifetime Record: MG1SW-HK, 19-8-4-2, HK$42,881,415. *1/2 to Sights on Gold (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), MGSW-Eng, SW & MGSP-Ire, G1SP-HK, GSP-UAE, $743,989; 3/4 to Simple Exchange (Ire) (Danehill), GSW-US, SW & GSP-Ire, SW-Eng, GSP-Ger, $306,505.
2–Packing Llaregyb (Ire), 113, g, 5, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Tango Tonic (Ire), by Trans Island (GB). (€53,000 yrl '11 GOFFEB; €45,000 yrl '11 GOFSPT). O-Lee Man Yan. HK$605,000.
3–Dominant (Ire), 121, h, 7, Cacique (Ire)–Es Que (GB), by Inchinor (GB). (95,000gns '09 TATOCT). O-John Moore Trainer Syndicate. HK$316,250.
Margins: SHD, NO, NO. Odds: 5-4, 8-1, 19-1.
Also Ran: Helene Super Star, Khaya (NZ), Willie Cazals (Ire), California Memory, Mr Gnocchi (NZ), Endowing (Ire), Bubble Chic (Fr). Scratched: Military Attack (Ire), Rainbow Chic (Ire).
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