It’s the sort of name which can give a commentator nightmares. Just one slip of the tongue could result in sheer embarrassment – particularly in this social-media driven world.
JANUARY 3, 2019
Spare a thought then for Simon Holt, the racecourse commentator at Sandown on Saturday, who could be calling Fukuto home in the opening Unibet Juvenile Hurdle.
Now with David Bridgwater after two races in his native France, where his name was registered, Fukuto, who won at Argentan in October, is reported to have a good deal of ability as well as an interesting name.
“I bought him only because of his name!” quipped Bridgwater on Wednesday. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw what he was called – I had to have him.”
The four-year-old son of Cokoriko cost €52,000, and Bridgwater said: “He can gallop as well. I’m hoping he’ll be okay and that we can have a few nice days out with him.
“Whether he’s up to winning at Sandown on Saturday I’m not sure. The Nigel Twiston-Davies horse [Torpillo] looks to set a good standard.
“But he’ll definitely be winning at some stage in the near future.”
Fukuto is also entered in the 2m novice hurdle at Plumpton the following afternoon.
Racehorse names are an enduring fascination – as the Racing Post’s daily Googling a runner item in Horse Play attests – and never more so when owners have chanced their arm and tried to get a risque one past the censors.
Among those to have made it past the names police are Two In The Pink, Wear The Fox Hat, Mary Hinge, Hoof Hearted and, er, Big Tits.
Some names submitted that did not make the cut are Ben Dover, Biggus Diccus, Penny Tration, Ophelia Balls, Ho Lee Fook, E Rex Sean and Sofa King Fast.
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Editor’s note: On the local front there were the useful handicappers Taking It Deep and Exceptional Head, both trained by the late James Lightheart in the 1990’s.
Pogue Mahoun was looked after by Dean Kannemeyer, and loosely translated from the Gaelic means something along the lines of “kiss my nether regions”.
And as for Cunning Stunt…
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