Night Shadow (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Van Zyl yard have two Silvano geldings in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 tomorrow night, Night Shadow and Silver Spring, and they are conditioned by Gareth and Gavin respectively.

The four-year-old Night Shadow officially has a tougher task at the weights, but is the more progressive of the two, and stable jockey Warren Kennedy has duly chosen him ahead of Silver Spring.

Gareth said, “Night Shadow ran above his rating last time. He is an immature sort of a horse who has got ability and room for improvement.”

Night Shadow is officially the worst weighted horse in the race tomorrow night, being 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses in the race. However, the yard have enough confidence in his scope for improvement to have nominated him for the Vodacom Durban July (subsequently withdrawn)

In fact he is only 0,5kg worse off tomorrow night with both It Is Written and Dynastic Power from the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, despite being beaten only a head and a short-head respectively.
Night Shadow jumps from draw 8 over an ideal trip and has enjoyed a fine preparation.

Seven-year-old Silver Spring is known to be full of issues but never gives anything other than 100% and Gareth, speaking on behalf of Gavin, said he was currently in a good space. However, he is officially 1,5kg under sufferance and is drawn wide in 12, while his highest ever winning mark is a full eight points lower than his current mark of 92. He and Triple Crown-winning jockey Karl Zechner have it all to do.

By David Thiselton