Elusive Silva has burst into the Vodacom Durban July picture after his victory in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting (WSB ) 1900 at Greyville on Saturday and WSB now make him a 15/1 chance for the country’s biggest race.

Star Express (Denzil Govender)

Last year Elusive Silva was third favourite for the big race at one stage after impressive wins in both the Listed Sledgehammer and in the Cup Trial, but he had to be scratched after straining a tendon in the July gallops.

He clearly loves Greyville, like most Silvano’s do. In fact Silvano’s won the last three races at Greyville on Saturday and in 2015 they filled the July trifecta.

Star Express by Silvano won the seventh race on Saturday, a Pinnacle event over 1600m, and has shortened into 55/1 for the July with WSB. However, the biggest eyecatcher in that race was African Night Sky who stayed on strongly from way back and he is now the outright July favourite with WSB at 5.1. Recent impressive Daisy Guineas winner Do It Again is second in the betting on 6/1.

Dark Moon Rising increased his chances of making the July field by finishing a 0,5 length second in the 1900 and is now 40/1 with WSB for the July. Matador Man was an unlucky third in the 1900 and is a 50/1 July chance.

Pack Leader was scratched from the 1900 due to a concerns that he might have been having a slight bout of colic upon arrival at the course. It was just a precautionary measure and he remains prominent in the July betting with WSB at 12/1.

By David Thiselton