Irish thoroughbreds have enjoyed much success in Hong Kong recently, most notably with DESIGNS ON ROME (IRE) and MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) winning the last two Hong Kong Horse of the Year Awards. It was these two horses that provided a thrilling finish to the Hong Kong Cup, with Designs On Rome (IRE) coming from the back of the field, sweeping wide and beating Military Attack (IRE) by a short head. It was the four-year-old’s second Group 1 win, having beaten the same foe, himself a dual Group 1 winner, by a neck in April’s QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

Previously trained in Ireland by Pat Flynn, Designs On Rome (IRE) was bought at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale for just €10,500 from breeders Moyglare Stud Farm. By Coolmore’s Holy Roman Emperor (IRE), he is a half-brother to two-time Group winner Sights On Gold (IRE), who came close to success at this meeting when finishing half a length second to Phoenix Reach (IRE) in the Hong Kong Vase. Three-parts brother Simple Exchange (IRE) enjoyed international success when winning the Grade 2 American Derby at Arlington under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld and owner/breeders Moyglare Stud. Military Attack (IRE) is also an Orby Sale graduate, sold to Amanda Skiffington for €40,000 in 2009.

A total of 14 Irish-bred horses were accepted to compete in the meeting’s four Group 1 races, and they finished either first or second, or both, in races that together boast a purse of over £6.8million. The first of the Group 1 contests, the Hong Kong Vase, was won by Andre Fabre’s Flintshire, with the Irish-bred Willie Cazals (IRE) just half a length back in second. Previously trained in Italy, where he finished second in the Italian Derby on just his second start, Willie Cazals (IRE) is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Joanna (IRE).

The betting for the next race, the Hong Kong Sprint, was led by Peniaphobia (IRE) after he won the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint in impressively fast time last month. The youngest horse in the race, he tracked the leaders to finish a gallant second to local horse Aerovolocity. Bought at the Goffs November Foal Sale for just €11,000, he provided sire Dandy Man (IRE) of Ballyhane Stud with his first Group 2 winner last month, and is a half-brother to Molecomb Stakes third, Safari Sunset (IRE).

Irish-breds took home more prize money in the Hong Kong Mile, with Gold Fun (IRE) finishing second to Able Friend, who gave Darley’s Shamardal his 13th Group 1 winner. Bred in Ireland by Michael Downey & Roalso Ltd, he was previously trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons. He gave Rathbarry Stud’s La Vie Dei Colori his second Group 2 winner when taking last year’s Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin.