Ano Manna and Leigh Roche with grooms Cian Roche and Fergus Gallagher - prior to disqualification© Photo Healy Racing
Irish racing's second identity mix-up involving a horse which passed-the-post first has occurred at Killarney today with 'winner' Ano Manna being disqualified as a stablemate ran in her place.
The Johnny Feane-trained Ano Manna quickened well to win Killarney's 3.05pm race but some minutes later, an objection under Rule 262 was lodged by the raceday stewards - which relates to a horse's identity being called into question.
Following an enquiry it was established that Feane's other runner at the meeting — Indigo Five was incorrectly saddled and raced as Ano Manna.
Ano Manna was subsequently disqualified by the raceday stewards and declared a non-runner, with full refunds for her supporters.
Senior Stipendiary Steward Liam Walsh has initially explained “Ano Manna never ran so it is declared a non-runner and from a betting point of view, is declared a non-runner. The enquiry is not over yet and we have to get through the nuts and bolts of the issue.”
He added “it takes time to verify the sequence of events but once the events are established, the raceday stewards have the power to demote, disqualify or declare a horse a non-runner for a breach of these rules.
“The relevant rules start with Rule 90 (viii), then moves to Rule 262 (iv) and concludes at Rule 17 where an objection to a horse has been lodged, that an incorrect horse has run.
“Mr (Johnny) Feane came in and it transpires they saddled the wrong horse, so their other runner Indigo Five is now a non-runner as it already ran.”
It is the second such incident at an Irish racecourse in recent years, following juvenile Alizarine's disqualification at the 2021 Galway festival as stablemate three-year-old Aurora Princess was saddled and ran in her stead.
Today's Killarney race eventually went to the Ross O'Sullivan-trained, Donagh O'Connor-ridden Bang Po which passed the post second and was promoted to winner.
