Brutal Force will miss the rest of the season after recovering from a life-threatening attack of colic last week.

Joey Ramsden said: “He got the colic in Jo’burg last Monday night and his gut was trapped between the rib cage and the liver. It was serious – apparently it is one of the worst types of colic there is.

“Fortunately the vets were able to pull out the trapped gut without having to cut it and the horse returned to the yard on Saturday.

“He is looking a bit sorry for himself but otherwise he is OK. He will be out of action for four months.”

The four-year-old, beaten only a head by Gulf Storm in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship on Met day, was in Johannesburg being prepared for a tilt at Saturday week’s World Sports Betting Computaform Sprint.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Brutal Force (Liesl King)