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I have a bit of an issue with the AQPS licence plate names (Sully d’Oc AA) but am generally OK with foreign named horses. If the names make no inherent sense to the observer then those names can phonetically take on a meaning of their own. The words Nashwan, Dayjur, Aldaniti (a portmanteau of the names of four grandchildren but the same principle), Kauto, Sybillin, Kotkijet, Winx etc will evoke little in the layperson. However, a horse racing enthusiast will become inundated with strong memories. Probably more so than if bestowed with a new, generic anglicised term.
Most French horses are named as foals – if you leave it until they are 2 years old – the costs rises – I think it is something like 600 euro’s plus. I think the English naming of French horses in France, is hopeful of them being sold to the UK. We had a French horse with a very long winded name – bred by the Mesnil stud. If your are a respected and decent breeder the forenames are running adverts – also helps in the longwinded attempts to name a horse. Naming a horse you need to put 3 names down, quite often all are taken although it is not apparent when researching – if you have a prefix it will be a given you will get what you want. Otherwise they reject most of them and Dobbin gets named Dobbin through lack of interest and by default.
I bought an AQPS 3 year-old out of the Derby sale but did not like the name Friska De Thaix (and am in agreement with Bruce Millington). He is based in Ireland and I was allowed to change for 600 Euros; a crazy amount of money but when amortized over his (hopefully, at least) six year career works out at one less pint per week. However, i did not know , at the time, that AQPS horses have a naming convention that requires the same first letter for all foals born in any given year. In 2015 this was the letter F and, so despite changing to an English name, the name still had to begin with F. It also explains why so many five year-olds have french names beginning with F. Anyway, his name was changed to Freedom to Dream and, to make this even more topical, he runs in the bumper at Limerick tomorrow.
It was nice to give him a name that links him with his predecessor -good luck with him tomorrow, we’ll all cheer him on for you
Good luck with your horse at Limerick today. I’ll probably go, and will keep an eye out for him.
Thanks for changing the name despite the expense. Freedom To Dream is much easier to connect with and remember imo.
Unfortunately looks like a non-runner now bur Alan McGee definitely thought he had a chance. Hope the horse is OK and was pulled because of the ground and good luck with the horse wherever he ends up next
https://www.irishracing.com/card?race=Limerick_Thu_30th_Jan_2020_4_45&prc=094&prd=202001301645
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