LIKE every other consignor, we at Calluna House Stud welcomed Tuesday’s confirmation of revised dates for the Tattersalls and Goffs Store Sales. Having been left in no man’s land following the initial postponement of the Derby and May Sales, it was imperative for the industry to receive clarification.

As a young and ambitious couple, my husband Jamie Steele and I, are working hard to get our feet firmly on the ladder by developing the stud farm. We buy foals to stores and in recent years have also branched out to recruit some good broodmares to breed from.

Although I grew up on a dairy farm, my parents kept a small band of flat broodmares, my Mum Pam bred the likes of Heather Seeker. I have fond memories of attending Goffs sales on days when I should have been in school!

In my early teens, I was more interested in sport horses than thoroughbreds and competed across the country show jumping. I took time out from school instead of doing transition year and spent it in Tallow, Co Waterford, with the Beecher Family, a name synonymous with show jumping.

I learned so much, particularly from Tim who emphasised the importance of movement and of getting a horse to power from their hindquarters and the importance of a horse being well muscled with a good topline, these learnings serve as my approach to the present day. Upon completing my Leaving Cert, I then spent a winter and spring with Henry De Bromhead. Again, it was a fantastic learning curve to be around such a great trainer.

I spent the next couple of years competing in show jumping, as well as trading and breaking horses. One of my better-known horses would have been a mare called Calluna Cindy who jumped to 1.40m level.

In 2007, our family moved from Kilbarry to Kilmacthomas following my Dad Lar’s retirement from dairy farming. My parents bought and developed a purpose-built farm for horses and my family started to buy National Hunt stock as well training and trading point-to-pointers, while I continued to develop my sport horse business. It wasn’t long before I developed my passion for thoroughbreds, rearing our young stock along and doing flat work with some of the horses in training, and from here I decided to move full-time into the industry.

When I met Jamie, he had a strong interest in racing and breeding. While not from a horsey background, he had attended boarding school with many friends who came from breeding and training families, so he’d been bitten by the bug too. Gradually over time, Jamie has taken on a bigger role within the stud, while still continuing to work in another sector outside the industry.

Supportive

My parents have always been so supportive and continue to be an essential cog in the wheel. Their knowledge of pedigrees and conformation is second to none, any help they can provide is always greatly appreciated.

Since 2016, we’ve had a particular focus on quality over quantity, something that has been borne out by our results at sales. Stock that’s passed through Calluna House Stud has gone to trainers such as Philip Hobbs, Evan Williams and Nicky Henderson, while Colin Bowe, Michael Murphy/Sam Curling and Shark Hanlon have bought and had success with point-to-pointers we sold on.

We are particularly proud of the statistic which shows that three of the horses we produced in one year went on to win their point-to-points first time out. Jamie is a great man for pedigrees, while I am all about the physical conformation of the horse. For me, a good walk is so important; they must be athletic and quick on their feet.

Our business has progressed year on year, and over the past 12 months we’ve opened up the stud to outside interests, boarding and doing sales prep for vendors, as well as producing our own stock. Aside from buying foals, we are keen to expand our broodmare band, up to the point where one day we can also breed our own National Hunt stores. At the present our broodmares include Henry’s Girl (prolific winner, with a smashing Mahler foal on the ground), Lucy Cave (dam a full-sister to Thisthatandtother, in foal to Maxios) and a Robin Des Champs broodmare prospect, Robinnia who we have currently leased to Closutton Racing Club and in training with Willie Mullins.

Last Friday night week, we received a boost with the win of Freewheelin Dylan in the Midlands National. We have a half-brother [by Walk In The Park] for the Derby Sale. His first crop of Irish three-year-olds are on the ground this year and for the mare to produce such a high-profile winner is great for the pedigree. Our store is a good looking, racey type who should have plenty of interest at the Derby.

We also have a son of Milan for that same sale; a sire that we’ve done well with over the years and this one is a big active type with a super temperament like all the Milans we’ve had. We have a further three horses for the May Sale: a son of Ask out of winning racemare Fennis Moll, a big attractive looking horse with great presence; a son of September Storm out of Mrs Peachy, from the family of Court Leader and Paloma Blue; and a Westerner gelding, a really nice stamp of a horse from the family of French Accordion and Accordion Etoile.

We also have a Fame And Glory gelding for the Goffs Land Rover Sale who is very forward.

Looking to the future, we’re working hard to build the Calluna House Stud name, to be recognised as quality producers. We’re firm believers in keeping the numbers down and giving time and attention to our stock. At the present time, we have 24 boxes on our 120-acre farm, so the horses are well handled and receive great individual care. It is our ambition to develop our own stock [we have a very promising bunch of two-year-olds and yearlings], while at the same time, providing a quality service to a select number of outside interests, be that in the form of boarding or sales prep.

Sarah Halley was in conversation with John O’Riordan