By Andrea Branchini
MEYDAN CLASSIC (SPONSORED BY MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM CITY-DISTRICT ONE)-Listed, $175,000, Meydan, 2-27, NH3yo & SH3yo, 1600mT, 1:35.87, gd. 1–WELL OF WISDOM (GB), 126, c, 3, by Oasis Dream (GB)–Alessandria (GB), by Sunday Silence. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick.
The name of the recent listed winner at Meydan WELL OF WISDOM, out of the mare ALESSANDRIA, is a clear and smart reference to the Library of Alexandria, which prospered in ancient Egypt as the world's greatest cultural and scientific center for almost 10 centuries, from 305 BC to 642 AD circa.
1st-Lyon La Soie, €16,000, Mdn, 2-27, 3yo, f, 10f 165y (AWT), 2:18, st. HELIABEL (FR) (f, 3, Camelot {GB}–Martinette, by Mizzen Mast) O-Team Valor International; B-Hugues Rousseau (FR); T-Simone Brogi.
Maori Knight (Ire), c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Chatham Islands, by Elusive Quality. Chelmsford City, 2-27, 8f (AWT), 1:37.96. B-Lynn Lodge Stud (IRE). *€82,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR. **1/2 to Balty Boys (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), GSW-Eng, $351,365.
Meanwhile in Europe, the sire CAMELOT proves to be a great source of ingenious names, in reason of the powerful aura of the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
A winning filly in Lyon, France takes her name HELIABEL from a sister of Percival, one of the three knights who get to lift the Holy Grail.
MAORI KNIGHT, a winner at Chelmsford in England, combines in his name the Round Table with the South Pacific. Her dam CHATHAM ISLANDS is named after an archipelago off the coast of New Zealand, homeland to the indigenous Maori people.
An Italian native, Andrea Branchini now lives in Lexington, Kentucky, where he works in the equine transport industry.
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