25/05/2014  Shatin  Race 8

DOMINANT lost its right front plate after passing the winning post. When questioned regarding the performance of DESIGNS ON ROME, T Berry stated that the horse did not travel as well as he expected in the early and middle stages. He said he had to urge his mount along near the 1300 Metres in an endeavour to improve its position to be following DIBAYANI. He said making the turn after the 800 Metres he rode his mount along and near the 700 Metres shifted it to the outside of DIBAYANI to improve its position as he had done at this stage of prior races. He said whereas in previous races DESIGNS ON ROME had quickened at this time, the horse did not respond today as it had done in the past and came under heavy pressure after the 600 Metres. He added when he pulled his whip into his right hand near the 250 Metres, he dropped his right rein and after making an attempt to re-gather that rein after the 200 Metres, he desisted when unable to regain the use of that rein. He said nonetheless at this time DESIGNS ON ROME commenced to hang in and whilst the horse had lay in in the Straight in its previous races, it hung in more significantly than had previously been the case. He said near the 50 Metres DESIGNS ON ROME hung in towards the heels of CALIFORNIA MEMORY and continued to race with its head on the side until the end of the race. He said although DESIGNS ON ROME was disappointing, he believed that the final part of the race was its best section of the race as the horse continued to find the line despite hanging in. A veterinary inspection of DESIGNS ON ROME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of DOMINANT, J Moreira stated that he was able to obtain a good run in the race that was run to suit. He said he saved ground rounding the Home Turn by staying to the inside of runners and at the entrance to the Straight he was able to shift DOMINANT out to follow the eventual winner BLAZING SPEED and in doing so took CALIFORNIA MEMORY wider. He said however that DOMINANT came under pressure after the 400 Metres and was disappointing in that it lost ground in the latter stages of the race. A veterinary inspection of DOMINANT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DESIGNS ON ROME, BLAZING SPEED and DIBAYANI were sent for sampling.