Jack Milner
There are occasions when a run looks decent enough, but as time goes on the standard of that run increases without the horse having raced again.
That is because the later performances of other runners in that race have gone on to elevate that form line even further.
That is the case with the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Read All About It, who lines up in Race 1 on the Standside track at Turffontein on Thursday.
His last run was on 30 October in a MR 95 Handicap over 2000m on the Turffontein Inside track where he was only caught late after leading for most of the journey by The Ultimate King, going down by just 0.25 lengths.
Since then, The Ultimate King has gone on to win the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m and last Saturday ended up a two-length third in the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m.
When he beat Read All About It, the Tony Peter-trained runner was racing off a merit rating of 97 and by last Sunday morning had been elevated to a figure of 113.
So, even though The Ultimate King is a better horse on the more galloping Standside track and was giving the De Kock-trained three-year-old Hawwaam gelding 7.5kg, it certainly adds credence to the performance of Read All About It.
He lines up in a Progress Plate over 2000m on the Standside track and comes into the race as one the joint best weighted runners, however, based on that last run he could be well underrated for this event.
Read All About It will carry just 53kg and will have Muzi Yeni, who rode him last time, back in the irons.
The other best weighted runner is Sean Tarry-trained Don’t Cry For Me but ran last Saturday in the Betway Summer Cup Consolation over 2000m in which he finished seventh, beaten 13.10 lengths by Aladdin’s Lamp.
He did contest the Victory Moon Stakes and ended up nine lengths behind The Ultimate King so he does look held by Read All About It based on that performance.
Nevertheless, he must be highly regarded by the stable as he has contested a number of features, including the Grade 1 SA Derby.
A bigger danger could be Roy Magner’s charge Titans Of War, who has found good form recently. He has only raced eight times for two wins and ran a decent 1.30-length third behind Eiger Sanction last time after having beaten the same horse in his penultimate start.
Calving Habib has been engaged for the ride.
One thing that looks a certainty is that the going will be on the heavy side after rain continues to fall around Gauteng. Hopefully the weather will clear for a while and the meeting will be able to take place.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Read All About It, 5 Titans Of War, 2 Dance King, 4 Royal Edition
Race 2: 3 Delaware River, 1 Winds Of Grace, 5 Utsaah, 7 Pleiades Star
Race 3: 12 Jaffa, 5 Space Mission, 10 Go Johnny Go, 7 Force Publique
Race 4: 12 Stokesy, 15 Anahita, 1 Real Stunner, 5 Naretoi
Race 5: 1 Doitwithdiamonds, 7 Kissing Machine, 8 Artic Silver, 2 Accept Cookies
Race 6: 5 Surprise Party, 7 Pepper Tree, 3 Duchess Of Paloma, 2 Lady Blunt
Race 7: 10 Stars And Bra's, 11 Tuscan Romance, 6 Roaming Spirit, 1 Frozen Fantasy
Race 8: 4 Captain Selvie, 8 She's All Mine, 1 Season's Greetings, 9 Vamanos
BEST BET
Race 1: 6 Read All About It
VALUE BET
Race 7: 10 Stars And Bra's
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 10x11
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 3
Leg 3: 5, 10, 12
Leg 4: 1, 12, 15
Leg 5: 1, 7, 8
Leg 6: 3, 5, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 5, 12
Leg 3: 1, 12, 15
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8
Leg 5: 3, 5, 7
Leg 6: 10, 11
Leg 7: 4
PICK 6
R1920
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 12
Leg 2: 1, 5, 12, 15
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 5: 10, 11
Leg 6: 1, 4, 8
JACKPOT 1
R160
Leg 1: 1, 5, 12, 15
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 4: 10, 11
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 3: 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8