Each morning my in-tray is full of the latest run of press releases from all number of stud farms, trainers, and suppliers. Quite a few end up getting a mention in one form or another on this blog (actually, whilst I think of it, another plug needs to be given to the team at Blue Gum Farm - their latest newsletter came out this week and the photos - as always - are truly magnificent).

Another was received today from Greg Tobin (marketing manager at Yallambee Stud that deserves to be re-printed in full (even though I've already given them a mention this week). It's just so refreshing to see a creative spin included in a press release - it certainly does make them stand out from the clutter.

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WHATS IN A NAME?

Standing a horse like Dewhurst Stakes-G1 winner, DISTANT MUSIC, was guaranteed to inspire a raft of melodious monikers, although Elvis, Hendrix and Joplin have all left the building as far as the Registrar of Racehorses is concerned.

Still, that didnt stop the connections of Bingham seeking a harmonious handle, naming their stakesplaced juvenile after Charlotte Bingham, author of the novel, Distant Music.

And it worked too with Bingham running a green but highly promising second to I Got Chills in the VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes-LR at Flemington, thus providing Distant Music with black type via his first runner in Australia.

But impressed as we were with both Binghams label and his lope, the David Hayes trained Sinikka due for debut in the Rancher Super VOBIS Plate (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday is the new leader of the band.

Now, if you already know who Sinikka is without looking up Google, you definitely need to get out more often. However, for those of us who confine our easy listening to lifts and a break between scratchings on the racing station, Sinikka is actually named after Sinikka Langleand, an East Norway singer and kantele player.

Lets face it, you cant get much more distant than East Norway (pretty sure youd have to change at Flinders Street).

Adding even more credence to the appellation achievement is that Sinikka (neddy not Norwegian), is from the Marscay mare Markka, which tunes in just nicely.

Coincidentally, a half-brother (by Choisir) to Sinikka will be sold as Lot 295 at the 2006 Gold Coast Magic Millions as a member of the Yallambee Stud draft (Yallambee has stood Distant Music since he first shuttled to Australia in 2002).

By the way, in case you're wondering what a kantele is the Scandanavian Sinikkas weapon of choice it's a traditional Finnish plucked zither.

Try saying that 3 times quickly after a night at the concert hall with a liver full of VB!