African Night Sky, the new 6-1 favourite for the Vodacom Durban July now that Glen Kotzen has taken Eyes Wide Open out of consideration, has been nominated for the Sledgehammer at Scottsville on Sunday week but will not run.

Jonathan Snaith said: “Elusive Silva will run in the Sledgehammer and African Night Sky will start in the Betting World 1900 at Greyville on May 19. He then goes for the Cup Trial (June 9) before running in the July.”

The stable has made no secret of its plan to adopt a low-key approach in the run-up to the big race with African Night Sky in order to preserve the horse’s 108 merit rating.

Stable companion Jo’s Bond (Grant van Niekerk) bids to repeat last year’s win in the Kwazulu-Natal Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday and could then go, as she did last season, for the Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on May 5.

The Candice Bass-Robinson trained Allan Robertson candidate Western Angel faces six opponents in the Juvenile Fillies Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday. Aldo Domeyer’s mount and fellow previous winners Clouds Unfold (Van Niekerk) and Racine (MJ Byleveld) have to concede 3kg to the four maidens.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: African Night Sky (Liesl King)