Jack Milner: The world of racehorse breeding often reminds one of the verse written by Scottish poet Robbie Burns in his ode to a mouse.
“But mouse-friend, you are not alone in proving foresight may be vain,
The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry,
And leave us only grief and pain, for promised joy!”
In other words, you can formulate everything correctly, but you cannot guarantee the outcome.
The mission to find the next Frankel is the aspiration for every breeder but it is not a perfect science. And even when they do breed a champion, there is no assurance the full brother or sister will have the same qualities.
That seems to be the case with Tales Of Us. He is a full brother to Legislate, winner of four Grade 1, and two Grade 2 races. In one season he captured the Cape Derby, the Daily News 2000 and the Vodacom Durban July (even if it was in the boardroom).
By way of contrast, after 11 starts and gelding, five-year-old Tales Of Us remains a maiden.
But all is not lost, a move from Cape Town to KwaZulu-Natal could just be the catalyst needed to get him into the winner’s enclosure.
Andre Nel’s charge made a promising start when beaten just a neck by Master Ofthe North over 1950m at Scottsville last time. The next move is to run him on the Polytrack and that will happen in Race 4 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday when he lines up in a Maiden Plate over 2000m.
Keagan de Melo rode him last time at Scottsville, and he is back in the irons again.
On a tough card, this son of Dynasty could just be the best banker on the day.
Khiza turned in a decent performance over 1600m on the Polytrack and looks to be on the up. However, as he has just turned three, it may be difficult for him to outgun his elders. As such, Tales Of Us could have his measure in this Maiden Plate over 2000m but it could be worth taking the pair in Swingers and Exactas.
Bad draws have cost Gimme A Rainbow but for once this consistent gelding will not be jumping from a double digit gate. Barrier No 6 might not be brilliant but it could do the track this time for the Carl Hewitson-trained runner when he lines up in Race 8, a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m.
Last time he also raced over this course and distance and although he got too far back from No 12 draw, he flew up late to go down just 0.40 lengths to Mind Set, who looks the runner to beat in Race 7.
Sean Veale rode him last time and he gets the ride once again.
Jack Milner’s selection
Race 1: 9 Lake Como, 2 Blackwhitedynamite, 8 Cape Princess, 1 Yoho Mist
Race 2: 6 African Skyline, 1 Fateful Day, 3 Ideal Act, 2 Mighty Mashona
Race 3: 2 Golly Miss Molly, 5 Lazuli, 10 Lady Yusra, 6 Denisa
Race 4: 6 Tales Of Us, 1 Khiza, 3 Command Council, 2 Tracker Jacker
Race 5: 1 King’s Cove, 5 Fever, 4 Lord Of The Manor, 3 Montana Sky
Race 6: 2 Owlette, 5 Lady Tiptree, 8 Maid In France, 4 Rachel
Race 7: 2 Mind Set, 1 Whizz Of Odds, 3 Beckoning Beauty, 5 Wildly In Love
Race 8: 6 Gimme A Rainbow, 2 We All Chomies, 4 Life Goes On, 11 Stanton Street
BEST BET
Race 4 No 6 Tales Of Us
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 2 Owlette
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 2×5
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6
Leg 3: 2, 6
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5
Leg 6: 2, 5, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 6
Leg 2: 2, 5
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5
Leg 5: 2, 5, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3
Leg 7: 2, 6
PICK 6
R800
Leg 1: 2, 5
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 6: 2, 4, 6, 11
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
JACKPOT 2
R400
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 11