Futura and Legislate – both sons of Dynasty – are now stallion ‘buddies’ at Drakenstein Stud in the Cape. Actually, the term ‘buddies’ might be a little off the mark considering what Dave Mollett overheard in the stallion barn.
Old rivals – Futura and Legislate vying for some personal attention
Futura just couldn’t shake his nightmare. He’d dreamt that his old foe, Legislate, had strolled into Drakenstein and pinched all his girlfriends.
Gaynor Rupert
He got up, put his head over his stall and his nightmare became a reality.
There – in the next box – was Legislate with Mrs Gaynor Rupert feeding him carrots.
When Mrs R left, the two champions had the following conversation:
Futura: So the grapevine got it right. I’d heard you might be on the way here, but actually felt you might be off to Singapore because of your co-owner, Dennis Evans. Why Mrs R wants you here when they’ve got me here is baffling. I’m surely Dad’s best son.
Legislate: What dribble. My name is in the record books as a July winner – yours isn’t. You might have done the Queen’s Plate double, but it’s the July winners that people remember. Also, have you forgotten the 2015 Rising Sun Gold Challenge when all you saw was my backside.
Futura: Yes, but if you can remember that far back, you’ll know it was a different story in the Champions Cup a few weeks later. What’s your excuse for that?
Legislate: It was the end of a hard season and I wasn’t feeling myself.
Futura is making waves
Futura: Oh, yet another excuse. You’re good at that and we had another one in the Drill Hall a couple of weeks ago. Justin said you looked lethargic in the parade ring, but I know the real story because my former stablemates told me. They say that on unloading off the truck at Greyville, you made a pass at Bela-Bela. She apparently said: “Keep dreamin’, Oupa!
So then you went off in a huff and the last thing you wanted to do was race. Pity those poor punters who sent you off favourite.
No real big surprise when I read it on Facebook. You’ve never liked Greyville and had a tantrum there in the Drill Hall the previous year when kicking the stalls. Also, you needed the help of the stewards when winning the July which you are forever bleeting about.
Wylie Hall aka ‘The Tank’ and Legislate go head to head
Legislate: Well, as many pundits agree, I deserved the July verdict. I’d like to have seen how you’d have got on taking on a tank of a horse like Wylie Hall who thought he was in a boxing match, not a horserace. As far as “Bela” is concerned, she’s not a full box of chocolates. Apparently, after the Premier’s Challenge she had a crush on Legal Eagle – loved to have seen her face when she found out he was a gelding.
Futura: Now, about our new home. As first here, I’ve got the advantage of checking out the “chics” and – with only Trippi as a serious rival, and he must be 19 – I’ve got a few winks back, I can tell you.
Also, Leggy, you’ve got to consider the Johnno Freeman factor. He rules the roost down here as far as stallions are concerned, but he’s probably got to get a few bob back on me after he and Jack Mitchell bought out Ian Longmore. Now, that can work in my favour. Johnno will want me to produce some classy types that he can get some big bucks for at the pre-Met CTS Premier Sale.
Legislate – making a splash
Legislate: That brings me to one worrying factor. Yes, we’re both Equus “Horse-of-the-Year” and if you’re a breeder you’ll surely prefer us to another of Dad’s sons, Irish Flame.
Glen Hatt
But we both ran shockers in the J&B Met where those Highveld raiders, Smart Call and Legal Eagle, made us look pedestrian.
I suppose you’re going to say Smart Call distracted you, but the person I really feel sorry for is your regular jock, Glen Hatt.
He told Molly after the race that “he couldn’t believe what he was seeing” with your no-show.
Futura: Yes, I missed Glen – no-one disputes Bernard is a great rider as he showed on Pocket Power, but somehow I jelled with Glen. We were a terrific combination.
You might remember what Brett said about me after completing the Queen’s Plate-Met double. “These horses don’t come by often in our lifetimes.” Doubt anyone ever said that about you.
Legislate: “Well, all I can say is that the Equus panel had no hesitation in naming me “Horse-of-the-Year” in 2014. Like I said, breeders will remember I was a July winner – just like Dad. Word will have already got round the ladies at Drakenstein that I’m the latest pin-up arrival. The start of the covering season can’t come fast enough.
Courtesy of Racing Express
