Criterion has finished third in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin with local stars Designs On Rome and Military Attack fighting out a photo finish.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman who steered him to wins in the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby, Criterion was having his first start on Sunday for new trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

Bowman had Criterion in a forward position and made his move on the home turn to open up a gap on the field.

Military Attack and Designs On Rome gave chase with the latter eventually getting the nod for Joao Moreira.

"He ran a super race," Bowman said.

"He raced much closer to the speed which wasn't really by design but he began well, travelled well, gave a kick and was just run down by two good ones."

Moreira also won the Hong Kong Mile on former Australian horse Able Friend with both his Group One winners trained by John Moore.

"This is really a dream come true for me," Moreira said.

"It takes a while for the penny to drop with him (Designs On Rome), but when it does he's very good."

Zac Purton, the rider of Military Attack, won the Hong Kong Sprint on Aerovelocity while Maxime Guyon rode Flintshire to win the other Group One on International day, the Hong Kong Vase.

French star Cirrus Des Aigles finished fourth in the Cup with trainer Corine Barande-Barbe saying the ground was a little firm.

"That ground is quicker than ideal for him - he can never give 100 per cent on it - but you can see that he hasn't a care in the world," she said.

"He absolutely loves the travelling.

"It will be the same kind of plan for him next year and we will be heading off to Dubai again, as long as he's OK."

Australia's other representative at the meeting, Buffering, finished sixth in the Sprint with jockey Damian Browne saying he did not produce his customary finish.

"He was a little bit disappointing. He raced a touch flat," he said.

"We couldn't find the lead and he didn't kick like he usually does."