Names to stay after ‘silly’ Cup situation

“If it stayed in Australia it may have to (change its name), but if it’s running in the Cup and going back (to England) it’s not going to matter, really.”

Racing Australia chief executive Barry O’Farrell fasttracked a change yesterday to allow Irish Yucatan, partowned by six-time Cup winner Lloyd Williams, to contest the $7.3 million feature as named.

Yucatan surged into Cups betting after trouncing rivals in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.

Racing Victoria racing manager Leigh Jordon commended O’Farrell for ending the impasse.

“He’s rectified a situation that’s silly, and congratulations to him,” Jordon said.

“Sometimes in big organisations, the wheel turns slowly — not in this case.”

The decision also allows German import Sound Check to revert back after being reregistered Sound due to a clash with a West Australian sprinter.

Nick Williams yesterday welcomed Racing Australia’s action.

“I was just happy to play by the rules,” Williams told SEN.

“But it seemed a lot of other people thought it was a ridiculous situation to put ourselves in where we’re changing something that’s known … to something that creates confusion.

“Certainly the people that have registered the horse here under the name Yucatan shouldn’t be disadvantaged by it.