None of the parties involved were forthcoming about the reasons for the split but a press statement released by Snaith Racing yesterday read, “The majority partners of Futura, Jack Mitchell and John Freeman, wish to record that they were presented with an ultimatum by their partner (Ian Longmore) that they either buy him out or sell to an overseas buyer, failing which he would force Futura to be sold by public auction within a matter of days.”

“His offer to sell has been accepted and the remaining partners felt it untenable to continue in a stable where their ex-partner has close ties. Therefore, Futura has been moved to Snaith Racing. The intention is to race the horse in Durban for the season and thereafter decide on his future.”

The statement continued, “Jack Mitchell and John Freeman wish to thank Brett Crawford for his magnificent handling of Futura and would like to record that the move in no way casts doubt on his ability as a racehorse trainer. They wish him every success in future.”

Futura (Liesl King)

In a sporting reply Crawford said, “I’m very upset to lose the horse but I wish him and his owners all the best in the future.”

When contacted, Freeman said he was not aware of the circumstances that led to the ultimatum and was not prepared to comment any further than what was in the press release. “We bought the horse to race, so that’s about it,” he added.

Longmore said it was a private matter and was not prepared to comment.

Legislate races in the colours of Drakenstein Stud but has Mitchell and Freeman as partners. The intention is for both colts to race in Champions Season so the winter programme for the two will be interesting.

Captain America, the 8-10 favourite who finished third, weakened badly in the final furlong after looking like a winner when he hit the front 400m out and the stipes reported that he was hanging.

Exelero, backed from 11-2 to 3-1 second favourite, was reported by his rider to have changed stride continually. The course vet said the horse was not striding out on his left fore and was making an abnormal respiratory noise. The latter complaint was also found to be affecting 5-1 third favourite Bezanova who finished fourth.

Captain America, though, is still on course for Saturday week’s HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Brett Crawford said yesterday: “That was a prep run. He pulled up fine, he is sound and on track.”

Picture: Paterfamilias (Liesl King)

He said: “Absolutely! He’ll be coming up for that race and then staying on with one of my assistants for the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge at the end of next month. We’re still finalising travel arrangements, but he’ll be there!”

King Of Pain beat some of the best “milers” in the land when landing a 40-1 win from a wide draw in last season’s 1600m Gold Challenge, his conquests including last year’s Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Yorker. He went on to run poorly in last year’s Vodacom Durban July before an excellent second to subsequent Queen’s Plate and J&B Met winner Futura in the Champions Cup at the end of last season. “That was a strong form line,” said Ramsden.

King Of Pain (Nkosi Hlophe)

A couple of months later there were worrying times for his connections when the good-looking Greys Inn gelding got colic and had to have an operation. According to Ramsden, he came through well and has “done alright”.

“He’s had one prep race and I was happy with the run,” said Ramsden. “He carried a massive weight, 62kg, and ran third behind Ze Kaiser and Power King in the Cape Mile at Kenilworth on 21 February. He put in a nice workout at Kenilworth last weekend and will have another grass gallop this weekend.”

King Of Pain, the joint-second top-rated runner on the list of entries behind Louis The King, is drawn at No 12 and that is not in his favour although he does run from the front which will limit the effect. And punters will ignore him at their peril because Ramsden has a good record on the occasions he has brought horses to the Highveld.

King Of Pain will be facing Futura again later in the season in Durban. Futura’s connections were considering sending him overseas but decided against it and trainer Brett Crawford told Gold Circle: “We are now getting him ready to go to Durban and his programme could possibly be the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (2 May), the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (13 June) and the Vodacom Durban July (4 July).”

Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate is back in training, according to a Facebook post from Cape trainer Justin Snaith. Legislate was diagnosed with a severe lung infection after running last in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate in January and had to be scratched from the J&B Met. The Vodacom Durban July winner will be among the 20 horses Snaith takes to Durban for the Champions Season.

– Nicci Garner for TabNews

Racing manager Derek Brugman explained: “The horses travelled to Dubai too poorly this time and there is no point in trying to get them ready to race. We will give them a month off and then decide what we want to do with them.”

Red Ray (Liesl King)

Yorker, winner of last season’s Summer Cup, Horse Chestnut Stakes and Champions Challenge, is expected to join Mike de Kock’s base at Newmarket in England but with others much will depend on whether the American authorities grant Brugman’s request for a more reasonable approach to the final part of their quarantine restrictions.

He said: “We have asked if they will excuse the C.E.M. (Contagious Equine Metritis) requirement in which they insist – after the 60-day quarantine lockdown – on a further month in C.E.M. quarantine during which the colts are required to test-breed to two mares.”

The problems that this would cause with an entire horse about to go back into training can be imagined and apparently many American vets are of the opinion that the stipulation makes little sense.

Cape Guineas winner Act Of War, top of the list of South African-based Jooste horses both in terms of ability and overseas potential, returned to Joey Ramsden’s yard last week after having a break following his shock Investec Cape Derby defeat on Met day.

Brugman said: “We are in no rush with him. If he doesn’t go to Durban we can keep him in Cape Town for his four-year-old campaign. We are not going to put him through the American requirement and nor are we going to do three months in Mauritius with horses just standing in camps.”