Trainer John Moore unfazed by outside draw for Designs On Rome for QE II Cup
Reigning Horse of the Year has thrived since returning from Dubai trip and is expected to be a big threat in Sunday's feature
Trainer John Moore has put far more emphasis on Designs On Rome's rate of improvement than on an outside draw for the HK$20 million Group One Audemars Piguet QE II Cup on Sunday.
Moore's reigning Horse of the Year won 12 months ago to foil then stablemate Military Attack's bid to be the first winner to return from a trip to Dubai, and now Designs On Rome finds himself in the same position.
He came up with gate 11 at the draw on Thursday, with Moore's likely leader Same World on the outside in 12. Helene Happy Star is in gate four - the trainer satisfied with all.
[Designs On Rome] is a stronger individual than Military Attack and he has come back and put on weight - he has thrived since his return from Dubai. He's still one of the horses to beat
"We know Designs On Rome is probably better out there where he won't be cluttered up. Same World going forward from the outside should mean we get a decent tempo and I wanted Helene Happy Star drawn low, so he can land a little bit closer and covered up," said Moore.
But his greatest concern had been dealt with at trackwork some hours earlier when Joao Moreira gave Designs On Rome a solid test.
Sunday's likely favourite galloped 1,200m on the turf with Same World and Moreira told Moore exactly what he had hoped to hear.
"We know horses coming back from these trips are quite jaded, but Joao says he's improved dramatically from how he felt when he worked last Saturday," Moore said.
"Military Attack came back from Dubai and almost won it last year and he was a horse who I remember often lightened off on his trips overseas.
