The latest horses to be purchased by Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing (BTR) have both been given names in keeping with the America’s Cup to be held on the Island in 2017.

Great Sound and Paradise Lakes, the fifth and sixth horses to join the private venture’s growing stable of thoroughbreds, will be in the midst of their second-year careers when the competition descends on the Island in two years’ time.

Simon Scupham, the BTR chairman, believed it was only fitting for their names to reflect the growing interest in the competition after the success of last week’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda.

The Great Sound will be the venue for the America’s Cup, while nearby Paradise Lakes is located in the body of water shaped by the islands of Bermuda.

“By the time the America’s Cup is in Bermuda both Great Sound and Paradise Lakes will be up and running,” said Scupham, who teamed up with Highclere, the leading horse syndicate management firm in Britain, to establish BTR in 2013.

“With the America’s Cup link, it would be great if both horses were winning races by then.

“This is the first year we have splashed out quite big on two humdingers. Their presence is very much on a par with each other and they’re both substantial colts.”

The BTR’s third syndicate, the Bluebird account, is its most expensive yet, with both bay colts costing 320,000 guineas.

Trained by John Gosden, the impeccably-bred Great Sound is the son of Europe’s leading sire Galileo, and has strong breeding on his mother’s side through his grandfather Danehill Dancer. It is expected Great Sound could race as early as next summer.

“He’s a lovely colt,” said Gosden, who has masterminded the success of BTR’s flagship horse, Johnny Barnes.

“I know the family pretty well, a tough family, they’ve got a lot of guts about them.

“He’s going to grow and change, and he’s got nice big ears — I like that. There’s a nice honesty about him. He’s a grand colt.”

The other half of the syndicate, Paradise Lakes, will be trained by Sir Michael Stoute, arguably the most successful trainer in British history.

His father Siyouni is a sire sensation in France, while his mother Kalandara is the half sister of Kalanisi, who Stoute trained to win the Champions Stakes and the Breeder’s Cup Turf in 2000.

All six of BTR’s horses, which also include Sir George Somers and Castle Harbour, were chosen by John Warren, who is regarded as one of the world’s leading bloodstock advisers.

“I’m delighted that I’ve got [Paradise Lakes], absolutely delighted,” said Stoute, who has two other horses wearing the Bermuda pink and navy blue silks in Horseshoe Bay and Sir George Somers.

Both Sir George Somers and Castle Harbour, who form part of BTR’s second syndicate, the Pink Sands account, are still yet to run because of injuries.

Named after the founder of Bermuda, Sir George Somers — BTR’s most expensive horse at 340,000 guineas — has undergone an operation after an x-ray showed he had suffered hairline fractures in both his fetlock joints.

“He’s a big heavy-top boy,” Stoute said. “We’ve just had to back off him as his joints are not up to the training at this stage. He will be fine next year.”

Castle Harbour also needed a minor operation in April but is fit to start winter training. “He’s a big boy and his joints were just not taking the training,” said his trainer Gosden.

“You have to realise a two-year-old is like an adolescent, like a kid of 14 or 15.

“We did some arthroscopic surgery and he’s back and fine. I want to get him nice, slim and tight.

“He needs to get some tone to him and then we will get him rolling in the spring.

“He’s grand-looking colt and he’s got a good attitude. We’re giving him respect and time, and hopefully he will reward us,”

For more details about BTR, contact Scupham at simon@scupham.bm.