The future racing career of both Legislate and Futura hangs in the balance after they showed signs of haemo-concentrating following their below-par performances in the J & B Met nine days ago.
Justin Snaith said on Saturday: “Their bloods are a bit thick, and we need to sit down and discuss things but I think it could be a good idea to get them ready for their stud careers.
“If they go to Jo’burg or Durban they won’t look like stallions by the time they have finished racing. But this is in the hands of the owners. It’s not a decision I should play a part in. If I did, I might be biased into keeping them racing.”
Legislate (left) and Futura (John Lewis)
John Freeman, who is a part-owner of both horses and is due to manage their stallion careers, appeared to be singing from much the same hymn sheet in the newsletter he sent to clients at the end of last week.
He said: “We always knew the time would come when our two five-year-old entires would tell us that their manhood was going to get in the way of their racing form. They have nothing more to prove. They each won four Grade 1s, both earned the ultimate accolade of Horse of the Year and both have a track record to their credit.”
Snaith also referred to the hurt of the Met after Five Star Rock won the Klawervlei Stud Maiden in the Futura colours at Kenilworth on Saturday.
He said: “It was not an easy pill to swallow. These horses are champions and nothing went our way.”
Cape Fillies Guineas winner and Million Dollar runner-up Silver Mountain has recovered well from the latter race and the Mike Bass stable is already looking forward to pastures new.
Candice Robinson said: “It’s all good with her and she will go to Natal.”
Last season’s Choice Carriers and Sceptre winner Cold As Ice found the early pace too hot when starting 9-4 favourite for the Listed Unibet Cleves Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday but she ran on well for Joe Fanning in the closing stages to snatch third.
Kenilworth Racing has issued an apology for some of the music on Met day being so loud that it upset the horses, adding: “Measures to prevent a repeat will be part of the planning for all future J & B Met days.”
By Michael Clower
