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.

Candice Robinson said: “Tevez runs in the itsarush.co.za Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday and Fly By Night will run in the next one (6 April) when Tevez will also run.”

Bass flew up What A Winter to win the 2013 Computaform Sprint. On his most recent start Tevez was fourth to Alboran Sea in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship when Fly By Night (seventh) was troubled by a previous joint infection.

Anton Marcus will partner last year’s Golden Horse Sprint winner Normanz in the Pinnacle on Saturday when the four-time champion has three rides for Joey Ramsden – Prince Of Thieves, St Tropez and Sir Henry – as well as Balletome for his nephew Adam, Azarenka for Justin Snaith and My Emblem for Eric Sands.

Picture: Fly By Night (Liesl King)

This was a fifth win in the Listed contest for Mike de Kock.  He landed the race in 2007 with Asiatic Boy, who remains the only UAE Triple Crown winner – aside from the Al Bastakiya also winning the UAE 2000 Guineas and the UAE Derby.

De Kock commented: “Mubtaahij won a super race, this was a very good performance beating the 117-rated Sir Fever. Our third horse Ajwad was 10 lengths off the winner, underlining the ability of the first two. Sir Fever is one to watch because he is likely to improve several lengths for this run. We’ll have a healthy respect for him, but Mubtaahij also has improvement to come. The UAE Derby is going to be some race!”

O’Neill said: “I have been lucky to pick up the spare ride on him three times for three wins. He ran a good race in the UAE 2000 Guineas last time and we knew this extra distance would suit him. Hopefully he has a massive chance in the UAE Derby.”

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Mubtaahij is a three-year-old colt by Dubawi from Pennegale, by Pennekamp.

Meanwhile, De Kock said: “I have plenty of hope for both Via Africa and Banaadeer,” after the stable’s top sprinters finished out of the frame in Saturday’s Gr3 Meydan Sprint over 1000m on turf.

Banaadeer and Via Africa were beaten just 1.50 and 1.75-lengths respectively in a high quality line-up and De Kock reflected: “If you look at the result, both actually ran very well and weren’t in the least disgraced.”

The pair arrived from South Africa late in 2014 and while Banaadeer was fully fit for the race, Mike feels he’d be a better horse next season. “Banaadeer has some maturing to do and he’s fared well in three international starts. He’s going to be a better horse at four and I believe he will show his worth over 1200m.”

Via Africa arrived in the UAE late in 2014 and this was her first start in 10 months. She paced it out well with her male rivals before weakening a bit going into the last 250m, but she picked it up again in the last 100m and ran through to the line.

De Kock said: “I really liked the way Via Africa fought on when it looked all over. She held the bit and stayed on competitively after being matched for pace, perhaps for the first time ever. She will improve massively with this run, I’d say at least by the margin she was beaten.  I am confident she can finish in the first four on Dubai World Cup night.”

– Mikedekockracing.com

– Andrew Watkins for Dubai Racing Club

The four-year-old ran out a very comfortable winner of the Racing. It’s a Rush Handicap at Greyville yesterday, his second on the bounce, and at this stage he still looks well ahead of the handicapper. The gelding took a six-point rise for his last win but that did not stop him as he powered away to win by four lengths from Silver Spring and Cage Fighter with tote favourite Raaees surrendering tamely in fourth place to deal PA punters a blow.

Double Clutch, owned by Ashley Williams who was active in last week’s Inglis Melbourne Premier sale, had problems early in his career but he looks well over them now.  His manner of victory suggests that he could be a contender for the staying features during Champions Season as he was still rolling strongly at the wire under Kegan de Melo.

Raaees has promised much but failed to deliver on more than one occasion and the turned it up again yesterday. Very keen in the early exchanges he led Double Clutch into the straight but did not go one with his effort.

De Melo had earlier delivered Midnight Lace, a late declaration in blinkers, with a telling run in the opening leg of the Pick 6 to get the better of favourite Roy’s Guardian and Dark Rose. The win was a family affair as Midnight Lace, a daughter of The Sheik, was bred by Verna Roberts, owner by her daughter Melanie and trained by father Michael.

Apprentice Tristan Godden is finally getting chances with one of his main supporters being Craig Eudey. Godden repaid that loyalty with an almost end-to-end victory aboard the Eudey-owned and trained Discourse in the fifth. It looked an open contest but Discourse’s form was given a timely boost by Silver Spring’s second-place showing in the previous race. Godden had the Go Deputy gelding handy throughout and pinched a winning lead at the top of the straight. Veteran Dun Carrer came from the back of the field to edge Pearly King for second but his charge came just too late to collard Discourse.

Weiho Marwing had a very productive weekend with Rampant Ice winning the Egoli Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday, beating a very useful field that augurs well for the rest of the Highveld season. He then saddled a treble at Greyville yesterday, all three ridden by Anthony Delpech.

Burnt Orange (pictured), making only his second race course appearance, made light of a wide draw to get up late and collar long-time leader Wild Namaqua in the second. Later, Delpech earned his riding fee once again to get Ze Tzar home in the shadow of the post ahead of Night Lock who had looked to have pinched a winning lead inside the final 200m.

In the seventh, Delpech let an obviously super fit Prince Of Magic roll from the gate and they were not catching him.  Salesman found some late market support but proved no match as Prince of Magic sailed home with lengths to spare.

Sabine Plattner has decided to advertise for a replacement for Yogas Govender. Applicants are required to submit CVs to odette.pretorius@hpc-office.com  by Friday week.

The fact that Mrs Plattner is advertising only now, and that Govender had no stables lined up when his contract came up for renewal at the end of last month, suggests neither party had expected to split.

Cape Guineas third Kingvoldt, joint top-rated horse of the 17 in the 1 000m Pinnacle at Kenilworth on Saturday, will miss the race. However Joey Ramsden says he may be represented by Happy Forever.

My World, third to Big Ed in Saturday’s Jonsson Workwear Handicap, is being aimed at the East Cape Derby at Fairview on 10 May.

Stan Elley said: “I gave him a two month break so that I could build towards the East Cape and he will have one more run before that. I won the Fairview race with Practical Joker many years ago and Red Badge was second in it.”

Big Ed, who completed a hat-trick when getting up close home under regular partner Gareth Wright, will be kept to low key events for the time being. Shane Humby was quick to rule out Durban.

Richard Fourie is now rated among the very best by former mentor Basil Marcus after the July-winning jockey threw everything at Garden Feature in an inspired ride that enabled him to conjure victory from what looked certain defeat.

Marcus said: “Richard was always a good listener and he has matured into a great jockey, as good as there has ever been.”

Greg Cheyne (pictured) is only seven short of his first South African century for six seasons. He followed up Friday’s Fairview treble with an ultra-confident ride on Ashram whose medical history amazes even Glen Kotzen and part-owner Peter de Beyer.

Kotzen said: “She fractured the whole of the bottom of her near-fore pastern as a two-year-old, and had to have a lot of screws and pins inserted. Even now she wouldn’t go through a metal detector!”

Brett Crawford said: “We are now getting him ready to go to Durban and his programme could possibly be the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes  (May 2), the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 13) and the Vodacom Durban July (July 4).”

The Gold Challenge is likely to see the four-year-old clash with old rival Legislate for whom the Drill Hall has also been named as a possibility. The July weights are published four days before the Gold Challenge so Futura can be expected to have top weight.

Crawford was among the South African buyers at last week’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne and purchased the top lot, a Snitzel filly for AUS $560 000 (R5.2 million).

He said: “I had bought in Australia before but not at this particular sale. I bought just the one horse and she is for the Ridgemont Stud (run by Craig Carey).”

– Picture: Liesl King

Vercingetorix, who was attempting a follow-up win in the Gr1 event, was racing into the home bend and approaching the straight when jockey Christophe Soumillon felt that something had gone wrong.

Mike de Kock commented: “Christophe couldn’t persevere with Vercingetorix but he said the horse wanted to carry on, he was trying to run to the end which shows just how courageous he is, he had more rivals behind him than ahead of him at the post despite his discomfort.

“It’s a big setback, Vercingetorix would have been a serious runner for us on World Cup night, we had him on top of his game or this race, he was extremely well. But we have to face reality. This is what I hate about racing. One gets up only to go down. I guess it happens in most other sports. Thankfully our horse is okay, the injury is not life-threatening.”

Vercingetorix was taken to a veterinary clinic and on examination found to have injured a ligament. Mike said: “He will be spending the night there and he is comfortable and not in pain.”

While his racing career has come to an abrupt end hopes are that Vercingetorix, as an entire, will be able to build his legacy at stud. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, he’s by top stallion Silvano from a mare by National Assembly and Mike commented: “He has a good pedigree and I think he will be a suitable stallion for South Africa, but his future at stud will be discussed with Sheikh Mohammed.”

Vercingetorix won seven of ten starts, including two Gr1’s and two Gr2 races. He was Gr1-placed twice.

– Mikedekockracing.com
– Picture: Nkosi Hlophe

Richard Fourie’s mount yesterday opened at 18-10 with Betting World who make Candaleeyah favourite at 16-10. This one was reported to be hanging in from 300m out when third on her last run (Shane Humby: “She needed company – she was all on her own”) and Andrew Fortune rides her for the first time.

Saint Donan is 18-10 favourite for the opening Wilgerbosdrift Stud Maiden although he has a touch of seconditis after finding one too good for him in his last three starts. Panga Panga beat him rather easily three weeks ago and the third and fourth haven’t exactly boosted the form.

However Dolf Maeder has made no secret of his belief that this wasn’t his horse’s running and says: “He is better than that and his recent work is good although this might be a bit tight for him. He wants a mile and I was going to run him over that in a couple of weeks. But the owner is going overseas then so he runs here.”

Seattle Kat just might be a better bet at 5-1. He was less than half a length behind the favourite two races back and last time’s poor run can be excused. He was reported coughing by the course vet. “He did cough a little bit afterwards but it was more that he was choking in the race,” says Mike Robinson. “I am putting on a tongue tie and a stronger jockey. I want Karl Neisius to restrain him.”

The outcome of race two should provide a pointer to Ashram in the Cape Thoroughbred Sales Maiden and Greg Cheyne’s mount is expected to start favourite. “She has had three good runs over 1 200m but she didn’t win so we are going over further,” says Glen Kotzen who adds, significantly: “She is bred to go further.”

She may well prove to carry too many guns for Gauteng and Camara’s Park while the hat-trick seeking Big Ed carries a degree of confidence in the Jonsson Workwear Handicap.

Gareth Wright’s mount has come into his own since being upped to 2 500m (Humby: “He was too immature to go over it previously but now he is over his right distance”) and was only raised 1.5kg for last time’s defeat of Juddering Angel who franked the form by going on to win three weeks later.

Marwing, with his main yard now based in Ashburton, has had great success since his move and his horses have blossomed. Uncle Tommy made his local debut over a mile on the Greyville turf in the Christmas Handicap, finishing five lengths adrift of another old campaigner, Fourth Estate.

He was then switched to 1400m on the poly and the result was never in doubt in spite of giving the speedy filly Captain’s Daughter 12,5kg.

Uncle Tommy (JC Photos)

Uncle Tommy has the ‘grandstand’ on his back again but gains some relief from four-claiming apprentice Akshay Balloo who has been riding with new found confidence in recent weeks.

Uncle Tommy’s optimum trip looks to be 1400m but there is no doubting that he his lengths better on sand and poly than on turf and he will be racing off his turf rating, nine points lower than his sand rating which should see him right up there.

The handicappers appear to be on the hunt for Kings Archer who has risen steadily in the ratings in spite of not winning a race.

“We will see if the handicappers have got it right tomorrow,” said Duncan Howells. “Every time he runs a place he gets more weight. I don’t think he’s an 83 but having said that he does have a light weight and he’s fit and well. Here’s hoping.”

Cat In Command has smart form over the course and distance and landed the odds again on the Scottsville turf last time out. He is in receipt of 6kg from Uncle Tommy which puts him in with a big chance.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a maiden over 1400m on the poly where there looks to be a few to consider.  All Together Now was sent out favourite on debut at Scottsville but the stable where not wildly confident. That was borne out as All Together Now found himself out-paced for much of the race but finishing two lengths adrift of the hard-pressed winner Ace.

He takes to the poly for the first time but given his pedigree he should appreciate the extra furlong.

Dennis Drier is back in town after a three-month stint in Cape Town for their season and has lit the fire in his yard. His horses are coming to the boil and he looks set for a good evening. Drier’s runner First Sea Lord, like All Together Now, made a smart enough debut and is expected to pick up on that effort.  Marwing’s runner Fabrizio has the benefit of experience and has the makings of a promising trifecta.

Summerhill-based stallion Solskjaer failed to land a bid when offered up for auction last week but he is capable of a good winner. Drier saddles the Solskjaer filly Red Label in the fourth with Cousin Annie as back-up. Red Label is in very good form over the course and distance but this is a race where it may prove wise to go as wide as finances permit.

Gill’s Fancy is another Drier runner that looks to have plenty of scope and should enjoy the step up in trip when she takes on a fairly modest field in the fifth. The Dynasty won very comfortable on the Scottsville turf when shedding her maiden and has the benefit of a good draw.

Drier saddles Tell The Tale in the sixth, a comfortable winner of his last start, and the lightly raced son of Jet Master could prove too good for Strategic’ s Pride and top weight Mumsy’s Jet who has come very well since being gelded.

Grant van Niekerk’s mount started favourite over 1 400m last time but threw away his chance by pulling hard and refusing to settle in the early stages. He was beaten three-quarters of a length and should be suited by the faster pace of this sprint race.

“I think he is as good over 1 200m as he is over 1 400m and he has got a chance here,” says Mike Bass. The gelding opened at 2-1 yesterday with Betting World who have as their 13-10 favourite Saint Donan, a consistent sort who has the advantage of Andrew Fortune for the first time.

Yesterday’s scratching of Tar Heel (dirty trach wash) leaves Galaxy King with a big chance in the opening Welcome to Bishops Charity Raceday Maiden. He was a 40-1 chance on debut and carried half a kilo over yet he beat all except Ernie who went on to take third in the Met day Listed race.

“He had a bad cough since and that interfered with his preparation, although not a lot,” says Ronnie Sheehan. “He is a nice horse and he has come on.”

Eric Sands, who had a double on Wednesday, sends out 22-10 favourite Silver Salver for the next. His rider’s 4kg claim will be useful, particularly as he was raised a kilo for last time’s third. Bobby James ran well in good company on Queen’s Plate day and has been left on the same rating. He is preferred at 7-2.

Interestingly the useful Twentymanjones (33-10) drops in trip after good runs over 1 200m and 1 400m. “The race doesn’t look that strong and I’m trying to get him into the weakest races to boost his confidence,” explains Darryl Hodgson.

Phoebus is a 5-1 chance for the Sillery Private Estate Maiden and could be the one to beat if you are prepared to overlook last time’s disappointment. The stipes ordered a veterinary examination but nothing showed up. “There was nothing wrong,” explains Dean Kannemeyer. “He raced three wide and Karl Neisius said he couldn’t get in.”

Canadian Dollar is evens favourite but has been off for six months and so Consonance (28-1) could be the danger. He is another who ran below his best last time. “His debut was better than expected but I have no excuses for that second run except that the course was riding quick and he got a bit far back,” says Brett Crawford who admits he is a little in the dark. “The horse is not a great home worker and he is still  not showing much.”

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Sassy Sal (28-10) could be hard to beat in the Powerplaycricket Maiden but Greg Cheyne is on the useful Chill Spa (33-10). He is riding out of his skin and has had nine winners in the past week. Fortune rides Natatela (28-10) and Hodgson reckons she will appreciate the step up in trip.

Picture: Grant van Niekerk has the ride on Panga Panga