African Night Sky, 28-10 with Betting World for the Vodacom Durban July before Saturday’s Cup Trial victory, came in for further support yesterday and is now as short as 16-10 with South Africa’s biggest bookmakers.

They had him at 17-10 when they reopened their books late on Sunday afternoon but the Justin-Snaith trained four-year-old was backed at that price and is now a point tighter. That is an incredibly short price in such a competitive handicap, particularly considering the handicappers raised his merit rating yesterday to reflect Saturday’s win and that the race is such a poor one for favourites.

There has only been one winning favourite (Igugu at 2-1 in 2011) in the past nine runnings and during that period only two other favourites have even made the frame. Indeed the average price of the winner in those last nine seasons is over 13-1.

Three-year-olds Majestic Mambo and Do It Again, second and fourth in the Daily News, are joint second favourites at 8-1 with Elusive Silva, Abashiri, Jeff Lloyd’s mount Made To Conquer and Coral Fever all on 16-1. Drill Hall winner Perovskia, who disappointed in the Cup Trial, has gone for a big walk from 33-1 to 75-1.

Rival firm World Sports Betting has African Night Sky at 18-10 (previously 3-1) and goes 7-1 Do It Again, Majestic Mambo,12-1 Abashiri, 15-1 Elusive Silva, 16-1 Made To Conquer, 20-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: African Night Sky (Michael Price)