What's in a name?
Ever wanted to know how our owners derived the weird, wonderful, wacky and witty names for their horses? Well wonder no more...
Adele Blanc Sec (Marchand De Sable ex Plead)
A fictional character created by French comic writer Jaques Tardi; Adele Blanc-Sec was a French novelist and investigative journalist, predominantly in the field of crime. Owners, The Trial Partnership, called their first horse 'The Legal Blonde' in reference to David Ashforth's award winning articles covering the Kieran Fallon trial, in which he dubbed Fallon's solicitor Jane Glass, 'The Legal Blonde'. The Trial Partnership was subsequently named to continue the legal theme, which is maintained with Adele Blanc Sec. Incidentally, the dam's name is also a legal term.
Ari Gold (Motivator ex Holy Nola)
Ariel "Ari" Gold is a fictional character on the comedy-drama television series Entourage. He is played by Jeremy Piven. Ari's character is based on the real-life Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, who broke away from mega-agency ICM to form the Endeavor Talent Agency, which represents such stars as Vin Diesel and Larry David, both of whom are represented on the show by the fictional Ari Gold.
Ballista (Majestic Missile ex Ancient Secret)
In reference to both the sire and dam, a Ballista was an ancient missile launcher developed by the Ancient Greeks, particularly effective over shorter distances and a predecessor to the catapult.
Cinq Heavens (Chevalier ex Prime Site)
Making reference to the song 'Thank Heavens For Little Girls', sung by the sire's namesake Maurice Chevalier, in rather a thick French accent. Of course the number, Cinq, is Prime, but we're not sure that was an intentional link to the dam!
Don't Tell Mary (Starcraft ex Only In Dreams)
Mary is the wife of owner Keith Trowbridge. Enough said!
High Table (High Chaparral ex Inner Strength)
At Oxford and Cambridge colleges, and other similarly traditional academic institutions, the 'high table' is a table for the use of fellows (members of the senior common room) and their guests. The table is normally on a raised platform and at the end of the dining hall.
Hoppy's Flyer (Country Reel ex Madeleine's Blush)
Named after Roy 'Hoppy' Hopkins, father-in-law of owner Gary Dewhurst, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
Hung Parliament (Numerous ex Sensational Mover)
No connection to the breeding, and fairly obvious what is referenced here, but it should be noted that the horse was named prior to the 2010 general election! Top tipping by the Tipperary Partners.
Knox Overstreet (Indesatchel ex Charlie Girl)
Knox Overstreet is a character from the 1989 Academy Award winning film 'Dead Poets Society', played by Josh Charles. The film is set in a 1959 aristocratic prep school where the pupils, one of which is Knox, revive a literary club called the Dead Poets Society. Dubious links to the breeding include a character in the film called Charlie, and the fact that the boys possibly kept their poetry 'in their satchels'?!
Quaker Parrot (Compton Place ex Little Greenbird)
Originally owned by the Timeform Betfair Racing Club Partnership but now under the ownership of Andrew Black and leased to Deva Racing, this game filly was named by Bill Dascombe in reference to a quaker parrot (also known as a monk parakeet) being a little green bird.
Riczar (Intikhab ex Tharwa)
Owned by Richard Woods, Riczar is named after Richard's son Rickie and daughter Zara.
Wolf Slayer (Diktat ex Bolsena)
Owned by Michael Owen and Andrew Black, this filly was named shortly after Michael's Champions League hat-trick against Wolfsburg back in December.
If you would like your own horse to be featured here, or would like to request that another horse in the yard be added, please e-mail one of us in the office...
