Designs On Rome

Designs On Rome (foaled 17 March 2010) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for his performances in Hong Kong where he was named Horse of the Year in 2014. Background Designs On Rome is a bay gelding bred in Ireland by the Moyglare Stud. He was sired by Holy Roman Emperor, one of the leading European two-year-olds of his generation, who unusually began his stud career as a three-year-old. The best of his other progeny have included the 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship winner Rich Tapestry. Designs On Rome's dam Summer Trysting failed to win but finished second on five occasions and was closely related to the Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow. Racing career 2012: two-year-old season Designs On Rome ran five times as a juvenile in 2012. In May finished third in a maiden race at Gowran Park and fourth in a similar event at the Curragh. He recorded his first success in a seven furlong maiden at Naas in August, beating the Dermot Weld-trained favourite Mouteab by two lengths at odds of 9/2. Later that month, in a nursery race (a handicap for two-year-olds) he finished second to Sugar Boy, to whom he was conceding seven pounds. On his final appearance as a juvenile, Designs On Rome was moved up to Group One class for the National Stakes at the Curragh. Starting a 28/1 outsider, he finished second of the seven runners behind Dawn Approach.