What’s In A Name: Cicero’s Gift, Gooloogong

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT.
GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien.

The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, “Gooloogong is a village located in New South Wales, Australia, population 295”, according to Wikipedia. The name of the hamlet also evokes (with a very slightly different spelling) that of Australian tennis phenomenon Evonne Goolagong, who was born in Griffith (a town) and grew up in Barellan (a village)–both locations are in New South Wales and not that far from, yes!, Gooloogong. Evonne Goolagong won seven Grand Slam tournaments between 1971 and 1980; she was a true champion and could have shined even more if not for interruptions caused by motherhood and injuries. The colt in question is also expected to shine and have a bright future at the Derby distance, so race commentators better start practicing the pronunciations of his lovely name, which is spelt with only one vowel recurring five times–exotically challenging.

4th-Wolverhampton, £17,600, Novice, 3-30, 3yo, 8f 142y.
CICERO'S GIFT (GB) (c, 3, Muhaarar {GB}–Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}). O-Rosehill Racing; B-Mrs F S Williams (GB); T-Charles Hills.

Cicero's Gift, a 3-year-old winner, has an intriguing name–deeply rooted in ancient Roman history. Terentia is the name of the dam of our promising colt, but also of the rich, engaged and dutiful wife of the famous writer/politician/lawyer Cicero (106BC-43BC), a colossus of the turbulent last century of the Roman Republic and contemporary of history heavyweights Julius Caesar, Crassus, Pompey. Cicero was both a philosopher and a man of action (or inaction, at times, as some critics say). The marriage eventually ended in divorce; Cicero soon had a new wife but was eventually assassinated by hitmen sent by rival Mark Anthony (Cleopatra's future beau). Terentia remarried too (twice), survived and prospered. What the “gift” in the name of our colt may allude to, we will probably never know–maybe that behind every great Roman consul there is a remarkable lady, clearly contributing to the good times.

 

The post What’s In A Name: Cicero’s Gift, Gooloogong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

As Time Goes By Seeks Third Straight in Clement Hirsch

Tabor, Magnier and Smith's As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) looks for her third straight win–and an automatic berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff–in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar Sunday. The Bob Baffert trainee, second in the Mar. 13 GI Beholder Mile, romped home by 9 1/4 lengths in the Apr. 24 GII Santa Margarita S. She was all out to hold off This Tea (Curlin) in the May 22 GII Santa Maria S., but has been freshened since then and is training strongly for her return.

Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) invades from the East to try out the Del Mar surface which will host the Breeders' Cup in November. Winner of last year's GI Kentucky Oaks, the bay filly returned to win the Mar. 13 GI Azeri S. by a head over divisional leader Letruska (Super Saver) and added the Apr. 30 GI La Troienne S. at Churchill Downs. She pressed Letruska on the lead before settling for third in the June 5 GI Ogden Phipps S. last time out.

Venetian Harbor (Munnings) returns to the main track after a front-running victory in the 6 1/2-furlong GII Monrovia S. at Santa Anita June 5 in her only 2021 outing to date. First or second in five straight graded events last year–including runner-up efforts in the GI Ashland S. and GI Test S. and a win in the GII Raven Run S.–the bay filly was sidelined following an eighth-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint in November.

The post As Time Goes By Seeks Third Straight in Clement Hirsch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights