Two horses with the same name primed for a rare battle

Victory can go the way of the Johnny Murtagh-trained Kerkiyra at Gowran Park tomorrow. Photo: Caroline Norris

Michael Verney

June 11 2022 02:30 AM

It certainly isn't every day of the week that two horses with the same name compete against each other in the same race, but that unusual scenario is thrown up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden (4.50) at Gowran Park tomorrow.

Confusion is set to reign at the Kilkenny track, as well as in betting shops across the country, as two fillies named Sierra Nevada compete against each other with one trained by Jessica Harrington and the other in the hands of Charles O'Brien.

How does such a strange scenario arise, I hear you ask? Harrington's three-year-old was registered in the US while O'Brien's four-year-old was registered in Britain, and that sets up an unlikely situation that is understood to have last occurred in Britain or Ireland nearly 30 years ago.

Yarmouth was the scene in 1994 when Averti, which was bred in Ireland and trained by William Muir, came fifth just ahead of a US-bred runner of the same name, trained by the late great Henry Cecil, and no doubt match betting between the pair of Sierra Nevadas will be lively for this remarkable occasion.

Harrington's Sierra Nevada, a daughter of American Pharoah which is owned and bred by the Niarchos family, is still waiting to get off the mark after three starts but she has been in the mix on her two starts this season, while O'Brien's charge needs to take a big step forward.

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The Mastercraftsman filly, owned by Sue Magnier and carrying the famous navy Coolmore silks, was nearer last than first on her sole start at Gowran last October when slowly settling into stride and beaten 28 lengths so preference in the unique duel is for Harrington's charge, which will be ridden by Shane Foley.

Victory can go the way of the Johnny Murtagh-trained Kerkiyra, though, with the Siyouni filly set to leave a string of fine efforts in defeat behind her to score at the sixth attempt under Shane B Kelly.

With Royal Ascot just around the corner on Tuesday, the fare is below par on these shores this weekend despite four meetings, two jumps and two on the level, and the other eye-catcher is a Dermot Weld-trained runner in the earlier fillies' handicap (2.30) at Gowran.

Ezine boasts tasty form having been beaten by subsequent Epsom Oaks winner Tuesday in her racecourse debut at Naas in March before narrowly scoring in a maiden at the same track last month and an opening handicap mark of 85 looks appealing for Chris Hayes' mount.

Meanwhile, Harrington will also have her eyes fixed on France tomorrow where two-time winner Viareggio tackles the Listed Prix Melisande (1.33) with Stephane Pasquier in the plate at Longchamp.