February 10 - Most trainers long for the opportunity to train horses as talented as three-year-old colt Summer Bird, who won last year's Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup, but for trainer Tim Ice that opportunity has dried up while it has materialized for trainer Tim Ritchey.

Summer Bird's owners K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman cited a 'lack of communication' as they reason they removed all 25 of their horses from Ice's barn, which they will distribute amongst five trainers at Oaklawn. 'I felt I was doing the best job I could, but we just had a difference of opinion,' said Rice.

'He [K.K. Jayaraman] obviously pays me to do a job and if he feels like they are not performing the way he feels they should he has the right to move them. I will continue to have a public stable which will give me the opportunity I need to meet more clients and build my stable back up.' he said.

Ice was referring to the fact that after the Jayaraman exodus, his stable had been reduced to just six thoroughbreds and that he was planning on moving to New York to rebuild his stable. 'I'm going to miss Summer Bird, ?said Ice. 'He's been very good to me and I only hope for the best for him.'

Under Ice's guidance, Summer Bird won 4 from 9 starts and earned over $2.3 million. The last time the colt competed was on November 7 last year at Santa Anita Park in California, when he finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic behind race winner and unbeaten mare, Zenyatta.

Tim Ritchey, meanwhile, was thrilled to take on Summer Bird as well as five other Jayaraman horses. 'I'm looking forward to training him,' said Ritchey. 'Obviously he's a very, very good racehorse, and hopefully I can do as good a job as Tim Ice did. I'm thankful to Dr. Jayaraman for the opportunity.'

Summer Bird is currently recovering from leg surgery to repair a condylar fracture, and is expected to return to training within the next month and a half. How long Ritchey stays as Summer Bird's trainer will remain to be seen as the Jayaramans have a reputation for chopping and changing trainers.