Naming a horse
The naming of racehorses is a tricky business. In South Africa, unlike most other countries, this task falls to the breeder, since yearlings are required to have a proper means of identity, in the form of a passport, when consigned for sale, at auction.
Give a horse a bad name at birth and its fate is almost instantly sealed. No matter how eye catching the animal might be, in terms of pedigree or conformation, a name like Stumbler, for example, is an instant turn-off for potential buyers. Cast your eye down the list of Durban July winners and do you see any really dull or awful, names? Well, Nymagee wasn’t too inspiring, but, for the rest, they’ve rejoiced in such charmers as Peerless, Nobleman, Hussein, Silver Spear, Eccentric, Agrippa, Piccadilly Jim, Mowgli, C’est Si Bon and so on. In the last half century, not one horse with a weak sounding name has won the race.
It’s traditional for breeders to combine the name of the sire and the dam, or to take a hint from the two, in choosing a name, which is then submitted to the Jockey Club of Southern Africa, for approval and registration. Sometimes the spelling of names, on the part of breeders, leaves much to be desired, and the Jockey Club, has often seemed to be equally in need of a dictionary. This year’s crop of National Sale yearlings includes a horse called Cresent Star. ‘Nuff said! But there have been much worse, in times past. Consider “Divors Deal”, a name granted a few years ago. It immediately conjures up a picture of a distressed Free State farmer, whose wife has run off with the neighbour.
There are some delightful names in this year’s catalogue, but some equally bad ones, which we won’t mention, as the breeders concerned have already punished themselves enough, in terms of the dent which is likely to be made in the selling price. Colts need a nice strong name and fillies something a little more refined, and delicate.
Standout names amongst the colts, this year, are Supremacy (National Assembly – Title Page), the full brother to champion, National Emblem, Hold The Fort (Fort Wood – Welsh Damsel), the three parts brother to Celtic Grove, Land Ahoy (Badger Land – Surge Ahead), Neptune (Model Man – Aquasarto), Dubai Dandy (Fahal – Lucky Flame), Bacchus (Muhtafal – Montrachet), Just Nuisance (Al Mufti – Mostly Mischief), Winter’s Tale (Western Winter – Orietta), Heraldic (National Emblem – Oriflamme), Windsheer (Mistral Dancer – Out Of Style), Heir Apparent (Fort Wood – Quick Succession), Arbitrator (Jallad – Refer To Daddy), Type Cast (Northern Guest – Replicadora), De Gaulle (Centenary – River Seine), Green And Gold (Winter Romance – Running Silk), Gabriel (Jallad – Sound Of Angels), Ghost Town (Badger Land – Spook’s Sister), Totem Chief (National Emblem – Warrior Dance), Icy Blast (Western Winter – Winds Of Heaven), Stolen Gold (Goldkeeper – Acquired), Bridgehead (Kilconnel – Allied Force), Detonate (All Fired Up – Brookfields), Jedermann (Dominion Royale – Famous Legend), Missile (Badger Land – Chase The Light), Challenger (Spaceship – Cream Of The Crop) and Godspell (West Man – Goddess).
The eye catchers amongst the fillies are Aperitif (National Assembly – Night Spot), Isle Of Skye (Fort Wood – Sound Of Rhum), Girl On The Moon (Spaceship – Luna Perfumada), Fragrant Forest (Fort Wood – Perfect Perfume), Perchance To Dream (Personal Hope – Perfect Princess), La Patoneur (Badger Land – Skating), Immortality (Western Winter – Ancient Lore), Vicaria (Rambo Dancer – Arantxa), Sacrosanct (Dominion Royale – Faith And Charity), Origanum (Model Man – Favourite Flavour) and Twinkle (Badger Land – Glittering Girl).
Worthy of mention, in so far as wittiness is concerned, are Tata Ma Chance (Sportsworld -Tshabalala Spring), Cool Britannia (Exclusive Patriot – Swinging London), Racquet (Becker – Dame D’or) and Pistols At Dawn (Fard – Gay Senorita).
Some breeders have been particularly subtle in selecting their horses’ names. Summerhill Stud deserves a special mention for the delicacy and charm of Salaam (Northern Guest – Salaadim’s Pride), but if you’ve seen the film or read the novel of that name, Chocolat must take the cake. She’s by Restructure out of Construe, both names being themes dealt with in that exquisite tale. Hats off to whomsoever it was amongst the Koster clan who named her!
