Gallops reveal little

AFRICAN Night Sky, the ruling 2-1 Vodacom Durban July favourite, did little to set the average punter’s hearts aflutter at the official July gallops at Greyville yesterday, being held to a steady canter throughout the exercise and posting the slowest time among the 13 big race candidates on show at the central Durban venue.

However, despite the nonchalance of what became little more than an occasion to stretch his legs and breath the crispy early morning air, this four-year-old son of the former July winner and one of the country’s prolific sires of top horses Dynasty, looked an absolute picture. With head tucked in as big-race rider Grant van Niekerk moved him into a canter at the start, his ears were pricked and with an air of confident authority he moved beautifully through the gallop looking ready to take on the world.

The seven other horses carded for the R4.25-million African showpiece to be run over 2200m at the Theatre of Champions on 7 July, completed their official appearances at tracks on the Highveld where they are currently stabled with the gallops being televised on Tellytrack.

Generally, little could be gathered from any of the workouts other than the fact that the 18 official runners and the two reserves – Pack Leader and Crowd Pleaser – were fit and ready for action, all looking in fine fettle and moving smoothly and smartly through their work.