The Vodacom Durban July favourite African Night Sky tops the ratings when he lines up and takes on six other big race hopefuls for a final prep in the R300 000 Gr3 Cup Trial, to be run over 1800m at Greyville today.
African Night Sky – Juuly favourite
The Cup Trial is a traditional July prep race and also carries the ‘preferential inclusion’ ticket for the feature on 7 July. It is also the first leg of
History shows that Cup Trial winners generally don’t go on to win the Durban July – but with the Snaith Racing Team riding the crest of a wave this season, that trend could well be bucked.
The 2017 Highlands Cape Winter Series champion – the first horse since Pocket Power a decade earlier to scoop the prestigious title – African Night Sky was given a low-profile summer campaign that included single digit finishes behind Legal Eagle in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and stablemate Oh Susanna in the Sun Met.
Having his first start for four months, the 4yo Dynasty gelding was just touched off by Star Express in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1 600m in his only local run this season –where jockey Grant van Niekerk admitted afterwards that he had not ridden a vintage race. Van Niekerk gets an opportunity to make good for staunch owner Fred Crabbia on Saturday – and the 11 draw looks the only obstacle in the path of the Highlands-bred gelding registering a confidence boosting return to winning ways.
Perovskia needs to confirm last win
Among his opposition is the Russian Sage gelding Perovskia from the Harold Crawford stable. The son of Russian Sage caused an upset when winning the Drill Hall Stakes last time. This is Perovskia’s major test so far and he needs to show he can now go on. He has a 2 draw in his favour and Callan Murray gets the ride again.
Stablemate to African Night Sky, Platinum Prince is another low-key Cape Summer Season raider who has done little wrong with two good feature places to his credit. Richard Fourie takes the ride on the son of Silvano, who will strip fit and ready.
The Querari gelding Head Honcho has won his last three starts, including the Sledgehammer last tim, and showed resolve when downing Pack Leader there. The latter didn’t quite go through with his challenge late in the Daily News on Saturday, but Head Honcho is improving and needs to be included as a dangerous pacemaker.
Dean Kannemeyer will be keen to find his best form this season and saddles a trio headed by the Trippi gelding Summer Sky, who ran a smart second on the polytrack last time. There is little to choose between him and Perovskia on their earlier Cape form.
Mambo Mime – wins the Gr3 Byelrey Turk
Stablemate Mambo Mime is a Gr3 winner at this track as a 3yo and showed up well last time when bumped but staying on well behind Star Express. On best form (see his February 2018 run) he can beat Perovskia.
Dean Kannemeyer stayer Cape Speed ran a fair Barrier Trial just under a fortnight ago and is no doubt prepping for the more stamina testing features that lie ahead.
Rising 5yo and still a one-time winner, the gallant plodding Ollivander gets the blinkers again after a fair fifth (3,30 lengths) off Elusive Silva in the WSB 1900. He doesn’t seem to have the confidence to win, somehow, but gets the blinkers again.
The 3yo filly Roy’s Riviera ran fifth (3,75 lengths) behind Oh Susanna in last Saturday’s Woolavington 2000. She didn’t run a bad race at her penultimate start either when just 2,60 lengths off Fiorella in the Daisy Fillies Guineas. This looks a lot tougher but she enjoys a 52kg galloping weight and can chase place money.
Topweighted Celtic Captain seldom runs a bad race and was just over 2,50 lengths behind African Night Sky last time out. He meets the Snaith star on the same weight terms and is likely to run a similar kind of honest race – without setting the world alight.
Crowd Pleaser – enjoys this track
Last year’s Durban July Consolation winner Crowd Pleaser has run two ordinary races since finishing 20 lengths back in the 2017 Summer Cup. The son of Captain Al enjoyed his 2017 SA Champions Season campaign and could improve on his 5 lengths off Elusive Silva in the WSB 1900 now that he is back on the coast.
Wild Wicket was well beaten in the Sledgehammer and the Kings Cup at his last two starts and needs to find his better form of six months ago.
African Night Sky looks the right horse and he can hold stablemate Platinum Prince and the smart chestnut. Summer Sky. Perovskia should be better this trip and he can run another big race if equal to the task.
