In his last start African Skyline took stablemate Captain Fontane right down to the wire, ging down by a short head.
It is interesting to note that while he finished ahead of Grade 1 winner Pearl Of Asia in his penultimate on turf and then fought it out with his much-vaunted stable companion thereafter, this Mogok gelding has yet to win on the grass.
Having said that, the Garth Puller-trained runner is also yet to run out a place in his six starts on the surface.
He will be looking to correct that omission when he lines up in Race 7 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, a MR 96 Handicap over 1200m.
He now appears to have ideal conditions in which to achieve that he will not be meeting a horse of Captain Fontane’s calibre and he also looks to have had the best prep going into the race.
Ant Mgudlwa has a good record on him and he will be back in the irons for this race.
While he is likely to go off at quite short odds, there are other who could provide value on the card. Watch out for Addabar in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1200m.
This gelding is half-brother to Under Your Spell who won the Grade 1 Alan Robertson over this track and trip as a juvenile. She has gone on to add the Grade 2 KZN Fillies Guineas to her record.
Addabar jumped at odds of 40-1 on debut over this track and trip and was slowly out of the stalls, but he recovered and then kicked on nicely to finish third, just 2.20 lengths behind Lazy Guy.
The reason he may jump at a decent price is that he has drawn toward the outside and in the race is Super Fast, who was expected to win last time but was beaten in a weak field.
Another who could be worth an each-way dabble is Free Will in Race 3, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1950m. While she was an inexpensive purchase at R17,000, being by Master Of My Fate out of an Al Mufti mare, has bags of stamina.
She didn’t show much on her sprint debut but that was to be expected, however ran on late when tried over 1600m second time out and now meets a very mediocre field in her 1950m debut at this track.
Lady Tiptree (Race 5) and Joshua Hotsnake (Race 6) also appear value propositions in their respective heats.
Clive Robinson
