Johnny Feane© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Johnny Feane has apologised for today's Killarney mix-up mess involving his disqualified 'winner' Ano Manna with the trainer also calling for changes to the horse identification process.
Feane's other runner at the meeting, similar-looking Indigo Five was erroneously saddled instead of Ano Manna for the 3.05pm mile handicap and 'won' under jockey Leigh Roche, only to be disqualified some minutes later, with the error being detected via micro-chipping.
Feane made a full apology and said “it is human error and these things happen. I was delayed in traffic getting to the racecourse as I was working hard - as usual, but the wrong horse raced.
“I arrived ten minutes late and I noticed immediately down at the stable yard after the race, that it was the wrong horse - the wrong horse had been tacked-up.
“In fairness to my lads they are similar-looking horses but it is my fault. I spotted it immediately when I walked into the stable yard after the race. The race was over, she was going to the vet's box and I just knew — they are similar but I know my horses.
“I'm not blaming anyone only myself - Jessica Harrington was fined E2,000 for a similar incident in 2021 and I've been fined E3,000 but I'm not going to appeal.”
He added “it was just an unfortunate series of events, it is history now and people study history to study why things go wrong. At point to points we scan all horses entering the parade ring and maybe in the future it might help to do the same on racecourses and scan them entering the parade ring - rather than just the winner after it.
“I'll have to put it behind me and move forward but I'd like to apologise to all the punters and to my owners, again.
“I have great staff but unfortunately it is one of those things. I fancied both my horses and both were in great form and have already apologised to my owners.”
