GODOLPHIN Ireland said farewell to a longstanding member of the team this week. Anthony Callan passed away peacefully at his home last Friday night (October 16th), surrounded by his wife Siobhan, daughter Lisa, son Joe, and extended family.

A local man to Kildangan Stud, Anthony began his employment in June 1987 about a year after Sheikh Mohammed had purchased the property.

School sweethearts, he and Siobhan got married in 1989 and built a strong home together. They had two children, Lisa and Joe, and he was very proud of both. Lisa moved back from Dubai recently, having spent several years working there, and now lives close to home.

Joe followed Anthony’s footsteps into the horse industry. A graduate of the Irish National Stud course and Godolphin Flying Start programme, he now holds a senior role at Whitsbury Manor Stud in Hampshire as head of bloodstock and sales.

Anthony left his employment at Kildangan Stud for a short while and, not long after his return, he took up the position as assistant manager at Ragusa Stud to Pat Murphy. He excelled in this role, and he and Pat became a formidable duo.

As the stallion operation expanded at Kildangan, Anthony relocated to Kildangan to take up the role of assistant manager and stallion manager. He grew into the role and was instrumental in raising the standards and implementing systems that we work with to this day.

Anthony’s first love was National Hunt racing. Along with his wife Siobhan, a sister to the Fahey family training dynasty in Monasterevin, they bred and raced horses over the years, the most famous been Owega Star, trained by Peter Fahey to win six races including the Grade 2 Tara Hurdle at Navan. As recently as last week the aptly-named Live To Laugh won at Punchestown for a syndicate whose members included Anthony.

During his time with Godolphin he was an important part of the senior team that oversaw the development of many top racehorses including Dubawi, Adayar, Pinatubo, Modern Games, Rebel’s Romance and Coroebus, to name a few. As stallion manager, he played an important role in the careers of the some of the best stallions in the world including Cape Cross, Shamardal and Night Of Thunder.

Anthony’s health started to deteriorate in 2020 and he eventually had to stop working.

He had many qualities. He was a man of great integrity and always saw the best in people but, most importantly, he was a great family man.

Anthony will be sadly missed by his loving wife Siobhan, daughter Lisa, son Joe, son-in-law Neil, daughter in-law Megan, his cherished grandchildren Rian, Éanna and Cian, siblings Michael, Marie, Jody, Teresa and Ber, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours, friends, and his work colleagues in Godolphin.

May he rest in peace.

- J.H.