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Famous thrashes Born in Royal Whip Stakes

Famous Name is well clear as he approaches the finish from Born To Sea in secondFamous Name is well clear as he approaches the finish from Born To Sea in second
© Photo Healy Racing

Famous Name recorded the biggest success of his career to date as he overturned the 10/11 favourite Born To Sea in the Group 2 Keeneland Royal Whip Stakes.

The Dermot Weld trained entire was recording his nineteenth career success but his first in Group 2 company.

He was sent off the even money second favourite for the 1m 2f contest as punters found it hard to separate himself and Born To Sea. Bob Le Beau attempted to make all under Shane Foley for Jessica Harrington but he was headed over two furlongs out by the winner who then went on and was pushed out to record an easy six and a half lengths success.

Born To Sea was disappointing back in second under Johnny Murtagh for John Oxx and was beaten from two furlongs out. Warwick Avenue was a further thirteen lengths back in third while Bob Le Beau was last of the four a further four and a half lengths behind.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He is an amazing horse. That is his nineteenth win and eighteen of them have been in Stakes races.

"He is a wonderful tribute to his owner and his breeding operation.

"He is a 7yo and has been in training for six years. His enthusiasm for racing and his courage is what racehorse should be all about.

"I will speak to Lord Grimthorpe and Khalid Abdullah and see where he'll go next. You can see he is in great form."

The winning son of Dansili was recording his fifth success of 2012, the highest total of wins he has recorded in a given season.

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.