Famous Name and Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
It remains one of life's minor mysteries how Famous Name has never won beyond Group 3 company but the Dermot Weld trained seven year old landed his tenth such success and his 17th in total, taking the Friarstown Stud International Stakes at The Curragh today for the third time.
The son of Dansili, unlucky in running when second in the 2008 Prix Du Jockey Club, has proven a model of consistency for connections over the years and while he has failed to land a major prize, has consistently mopped up valuable Listed and Group 3 events by large winning distances.
Again ridden by Pat Smullen, the admirable entire had little difficulty defeating Defining Year by three and three parts of a length and Weld, in adoring terms, later said “Famous Name is a special horse and he always goes out there to battle to win his races.
“He is an amazing horse to keep performing at Group level and really the key to him is that he has kept his enthusiasm and loves training. We've still got to look for that Group 1 win and he'll go for the Group 1 (the not-so-easy to remember Group 1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen Stakes) next at Munich, in which he was second last year.”
Weld also added “Speaking Of Which (withdrawn from yesterday's Irish Derby) will go for the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown next in a few weeks time, provided the ground is a bit better.”
Following Famous Name's win, Boylesports Bookmakers have added a novelty bet to their portfolio, making him a 5/6 chance each of two, to either win or not win a Group 1 race this season.
