search the site
My name is Foo
What’s in a name? Often more than you think once you do some research.
Today’s first race winner at Ascot (WA), the debutante filly with the catchy name, Foo Foo The Snoo, had me “googling” before the racecaller Darren McAulley had finished his run through.
A quick analysis shows there is a lot more to the quirky name of this Starcraft filly than just a bunch of ooos. Google reports that Foo Foo The Snoo is an invention of American children’s book writer Dr. Seuss (nom de plume for author Theodore Geisel). “Foo-Foo the Snoo is merely an invention of Dr. Seuss to make a rhyme (so sorry to break it to you) the end of a phrase in Dr. Seuss’s children’s book, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut,” reports Google, citing Time magazine.
Well, this Foo Foo The Snoo is much more than a figment of Dr. Seuss’ imagination.
The filly comes from a great Australian family. Her dam Miss Astur is by Royal Academy (USA) from Clear Apollo (by King Apollo), who is a three-quarter sister to the Golden Slipper winner and exceptional sire Star Watch (by Bletchingly) – both are out of the outstanding broodmare Light Of Peace (by Light Wind (FR)).
Foo Foo The Snoo is trained at Casuarina by Lindsey Smith for part-owners Geisel Park Pty Ltd (managed by Eddie Rigg) – hence the Dr. Seuss link – and former bookmaker Kim Hunter. Rigg bred the filly and retained her after she was “sold” at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $48,000 (on the bid of Premium Bloodstock).
Rigg paid $180,000 for Miss Astur, in foal to Starcraft, at the 2008 Magic Millions Winter Broodmare sale. The mare was part of the Paul Makin (owner of Starcraft) dispersal of mares under the Arrowfield banner.
Photo: Starcraft at Arrowfield.
Congratulation to the authors of these articles on horses and trainers.
I agree,Lee Freedman is the trainer to follow in the next few months and so is the progeny of Rock of Gibraltar ( a very underrated and undervalued stallion in Australia).