Speculation invariably abounds as to how racehorses get their names.
Greek gods, favourite holiday destinations, all-too-facile (and sometimes painfully basic) parental combinations and these days the google network are among the popular go-to sources in that eternal search.
Few racehorse names are more simplistic and clever, however, than the one belonging to Monday’s McGregor Grant Steeplechase winner Eion. Bought for $19,000 by Kevin Myers at the 2015 Karaka Ready to Run Sale, the clue to his name is his pedigree.
His sire is Man Of Power, who was a minor winner for trainers Trevor and Stephen McKee by champion stallion Redoute’s Choice from Mannerism, a racemare best known for her 1992 Caulfield Cup win over the Shane Dyeridden Veandercross.
His dam’s name Powers follows a similar theme, while another element was his being bred at Barbara Brough’s Riversley Park, where Man Of Power stood, just up the road from the Huntly Power Station on the western banks of the Waikato River.
Fast forward to the unnamed gelding being in work with Myers when the time came for him to be registered. A regular visitor to the Myers establishment was former jumps jockey Eion Jones in his capacity as the metre reader for the local power supplier.
“By Man Of Power, out of a mare called Powers,” mused Myers, “perfect, we’ll call him Eion!”
Myers prepared Eion for just two unplaced starts on the flat in the autumn of 2017 before unsoundness issues saw him sidelined for two years, by which time Ken Duncan had taken over training duties.
The rest, as the saying goes, is history, however back at camp Myers the amusement continues as to how the McGregor Grant winner came by his name.
“We have to name quite a few horses and Eion was probably one of the easier ones when you think about it,” Myers’ partner Angela Ilston told RaceForm. “Eion Jones, who we all know as Jonah around here, goes back a long way with the Myers family to when he rode for Kevin’s father.
“He’s since retired from his meter reading job, but he potters around helping Raymond (Connors), so we still see a bit of him. I imagine he’s pretty chuffed that the horse named after him has finally made the grade.”
