What A Name

On what was a great day for Mikel Delzangles at Longchamp on Sunday, his two-year-old filly What A Name ran a cracker against the colts in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, doing well to get as close as she did.

Held up by Christophe Lemaire in the last trio early on, she travelled comfortably, she was still cantering two furlongs out, but given the bunched nature of the field, Lemaire couldn’t ask her to pick up until a furlong and a half from the line. He had to just sit and follow the eventual winner Olympic Glory through, and when there was room for her to pick up, she did so immediately and moved right up onto the quarters of Olympic Glory, but she wasn’t able to get any closer than that as Olympic Glory, as he has already proven, has a potent finishing kick himself, which came into effect late on. What A Name was able to get past the more prominently ridden Indian Jade in the last few strides, with a five-length break back to the rest, including previous Group 1 winner Pedro The Great.

What A Name is by Mr Greeley out of a Dayjur mare, and is surely at her best on fast ground. This was a huge effort against the colts in Group 1 company on what was only her fourth race. It shows just how highly she is regarded by her trainer that he has now run her against colts on both of her last two runs – she was the only filly in the race on her previous run in the Prix La Rochette at Longchamp too – and she showed a good turn of foot there having looked to have been given plenty to do through the final furlong and a half.

She is an exciting three-year-old to look forward to for next year. She could be a 1000 Guineas. Before Sunday, Delzangles suggested that he may even have a trip to the Breeders’ Cup for the Juvenile Fillies Turf with her this season. She would be very interesting were she to go to America.

7th October 2012