Owning a race horse comes with many thrilling experiences during the journey, these can range from experiencing the very first win (breaking the maiden status or commonly referred to “getting the monkey off their back”), moving up the grades and even getting to racing in city class on a weekend if they are good enough. But once the excitement of having invested in the horse has passed and as you begin telling those close to you about your latest acquisition, the next exciting part of the journey is to give the horse its official race name.
Some people don’t know that race horses actually have two names- 1. Race Name (the name they are known by at the Races) 2. Stable Name (a name that stable staff give the horse to refer to it when in the stable). When coming up with a race name for the horses, there is no set system that you have to follow- simply different people have different opinions or ways they like to come up with a name for their horse. Some people will use a combination of the Sire (father) and the Dam (mother) to come up with a name, others have a consistent naming pattern they use, while others may follow certain rules, really depends on the people. When registering a race horse, you have to submit three names in order of preference to Racing Australia and then the official name is then selected. Once a horse has its official race name it can then go to the trials and then head to the races and begin to continue the excitement for its owners.
For some of our owners, they have gone through the process of having to come up with names for their horse and submissions were sent in with this week the official race names coming through. Some of the new names to watch out for as part of Team Sargent are:
SHINE TAK FIELD
(Deep Field x Charlety Star)
Sex: Colt
This chestnut beauty was bred by Segenhoe Stud and purchased from the 2018 Inglis Classic Sale by some of our long term and loyal Hong Kong based owners. He is the half brother to smart mare NAJOOM who was trained by Gai Waterhouse and earned her connections over $250K. This colt’s 3rd dam Gainesville also produced Multiple Group 1 winner, Internationally performed and now Stallion CRITERION.
SHARP OBJECT
(Stratum x Sharp)
Sex: Gelding
This bay beauty comes to the stable from Bylong Park (Manager: Richard Johnstone) who have retained this horse to race in partnership with John Sargent Racing. The Dam is the producer of In The Vanguard who was a lightly raced mare trained by none other than John himself.
ZOUMAZE
(Zoustar x Be Amazed)
Sex: Filly
Purchased from the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale after having being Passed In (did not meet the reserve in the sale ring) has also joined the stables. This girl is the 5th foal out of a Redoute’s Choice mare who hails from a family full of Listed and Group winners (what we in the industry call Black Type). When deciding on this filly’s race name the ownership group went to dinner and all names were put onto a list ensuring that they fitted the criteria of only 7 letters (all good horses have had 7 letters in their name e.g. Phar Lap) before being shortlisted to just 5 names and then the lazy susan at the chinese restuarant came in use as the list was spun around the table and everyone had their vote on the final three names.
We wish the connections associated with all three horses the very best in their race horse ownership journey.
