Jack Milner: The curtain has come down on the qualifying competition and now it is in the hands of the handicappers and Gold Circle as to who will make up the final field for the R4.25-million Vodacom Durban July over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday 7 July.

Ken Nicol: After his fluent win in the Cup Trial on Saturday, ruling Vodacom July favourite African Night Sky’s Merit Rating has been raised from 108 to 112.

The two Grade 1 winners from the Daily News 2000 race meeting at Greyville on Saturday, Surcharge and Oh Susanna, were withdrawn from the R4.25-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July at the second acceptance stage on Monday.

Justin Snaith seems set to field a big team in this year’s Vodacom Durban July, after the latest log has his entries filling six of the top eleven spots.

Trainer Mike de Kock has withdrawn four horses from the 2018 Vodacom Durban July.

Eyes Wide Open, 6-1 favourite for the Vodacom Durban July with those firms already betting on the country’s most famous race, is no longer under consideration for the Greyville showpiece.