Lucky Bubbles, Designs On Rome step forward in Hong Kong

Lucky Bubbles and Designs On Rome won Group 2 races at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday that could lead to starts in seven-figure Group 1 races in Hong Kong in December.

Lucky Bubbles won the $515,616 Premier Bowl at six furlongs on turf in his first start of the current Hong Kong season. Lucky Bubbles is considered the leading contender on the Hong Kong circuit for the Hong Kong Sprint, a race that typically draws runners from Australia, Japan and Europe.

In the Premier Bowl, Lucky Bubbles, the 2-1 favorite, rallied wide to win by a neck over 9-1 Amazing Kids. Aerovelocity, who won the 2014 Hong Kong Sprint, finished third.

Lucky Bubbles was ridden by Brett Prebble. A 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Sebring, Lucky Bubbles won the Group 2 Sprint Cup in Hong Kong in April.

Designs On Rome, the Horse of the Year in Hong Kong for the 2013-14 season, rallied from the back of a field of 11 to win the $515,616 Sha Tin Trophy at about a mile on turf as a 20-1 outsider.

The Sha Tin Trophy was run at a slow early pace. Jockey Karis Teetan urged Designs On Rome toward the front with more than three furlongs to go, and held off 47-1 Blazing Speed to win by a neck.

Trainer John Moore said Designs On Rome will be considered for the Hong Kong Cup on Dec. 11. Designs On Rome and Blazing Speed may have a final prep race for the Hong Kong Cup in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup on Nov. 20.

Designs On Rome, a 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Holy Roman Emperor, won the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup in February, and was fourth in the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup to Blazing Speed in May.