Rome still has Designs on Group One Designs On Rome remains on course for a step up to Group One company later this month, despite his recent reverse in a Tipperary nursery. The son of Holy Roman Emperor ran out an impressive winner on his third start at Naas, after which trainer Pat Flynn suggested the juvenile could be the best horse he has ever trained. He was unsurprisingly a hot favourite on his handicap debut last Thursday, but had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Sugar Boy. Flynn feels time may tell his charge had plenty on his plate conceding weight to the winner, Sugar Boy, and has the Goffs Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh as Designs On Rome's next objective. "I was very happy with him. He was giving half a stone to the winner and they tell me they think he's a Listed horse," said Flynn. "If that's the case then he could be rated about 108, making our fellow around 115, so that's the way I look at it. "Our horse is still a bit green and I blame myself a little bit as I had him too fresh and well the other day, so he messed around a bit going down to the start. "We have always rated him very highly and we still do, so we're still aiming for the Group One race on September 15. I think he's entitled to be in the race and he will keep improving."
