He is officially 6,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted female Sound Of Warning and 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted male William Robertson.

 

However, trainer Tony Rivalland explained, “His merit rating is only sitting at 97 because the conditions of pinnacle races allows me to keep him there. His actual merit rating is between 103 and 105 (which is called a “ghost rating”). I could have asked for him to be 105 and if taking the 105 would have guaranteed me a place in the Merchants I would have taken it, but there was always a chance of him ending up as a reserve runner”.

 

He continued, “I’m happy with him. He took his last run well. It was ten days ago and two weeks away from when he’s going to race. He had his final work out this morning. He’s in a good space mentally. He’s sound and I couldn’t be happier. He’s a horse on the up and he’ll be better over 1200m at Greyville (a course and distance over which he has won three times in five attempts). Fortunately, he is well drawn (in pole position), so as long as he breaks well I think he is a massive runner.”

 

He also runs Let’s Not Linger in the last race and said, “Tough task because she’s got 61kg and she’s drawn very wide, but she’s in a good space and she’s fit and has some sort of chance.”