Famous Name and Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
Famous Name a horse you could almost set your watch to, has been retired to stud following a glittering career, spanning six seasons which yielded a 21st win, in the Listed Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown today.
His trainer Dermot Weld will leave the Dublin course with mixed emotions this evening, and having earlier had wins with impressive duo Rasmeyaa and Big Break will leave with the loss, to stud, of one of his yard's most liked, and best, racehorses.
Again ridden by Pat Smullen, Famous Name gave another powerful display against today's rivals. The son of Dansili arrived to challenge on the outer entering the straight and soon quickened impressively clear for another easy three and a half length win over Demurely
Passing the post, Smullen gave the seven year old his customary pat down the neck but it was left to John Osborne, of the Irish National Stud, to announce news of Famous Name's retirement.
He stated “Famous Name is retired today after a glorious career. He has had 38 starts and has 21 wins, 20 in Stakes company, to his name.
“We are looking forward to producing horses just like him; in six seasons he has only run outside Stakes company once, and that was when he won his maiden by seven lengths.
“He was only beaten in a photo in the French Derby as a three year old but if had won that day we'd have missed out on all the great days he had here (at Leopardstown)!
“We are very excited to have him and you couldn't find a racehorse like him; he has won about Stg£1.3m in prizemoney.
“They've always loved him at Rosewell and he has been a great horse to train, is uncomplicated and sound. He has had six seasons competing at the highest level and always gave him best.”
Famous Name's win was also a third win of the day for jockey Smullen, who has conceded defeat in the Jockeys' Championship with news that he will not ride at either of the remaining Flat meetings (Dundalk on Friday and Leopardstown on Sunday) due to commitments abroad. He lies three winners behind Champion elect Joseph O'Brien.
On course reporting by Gary Carson.
