A spokeswoman for Coolmore stables in Ireland, John Magnier's huge breeding organisation, said the choice of name depends on whether they think the horse boasts a good pedigree.

"Well, we have a few names on file. For example when Galileo, who won the Derby, came to us we gave it that name because it was simple but also grand," she said.

"There is another that we have called Tendulkar, named after the famous Indian batsman.

"But generally if we happen to breed or stumble across a horse with a bit of class, then we give it a name that would befit it. It's not often we've given a horse a bad name."

Trainer Thomas Tate, who once looked after Haditovski, revealed why he gave the horse such a suggestive name.

"Well, it was during the time of President Clinton's faux pas and we got the name from Private Eye who gave Monica Lewinski the nickname Haditovski," said Tate.

"He was a cheeky little horse, so I thought that was apt.

"I don't think Weatherbys realised that it was rude, so I got away with it."