MHS (Mill House Stud) is located in Gowran on limestone-rich farmland and is where a number of talented horses have begun their career. The legacy was handed down through the generations from the late Ita Brennan and is a family-run enterprise.

1. Your brother-in-law John bred Imperial Cavalier (London), Ita bred MHS Going Global (Rio de Janeiro) and now Kilkenny (previously MHS Fernhill) is selected for Tokyo. Many congratulations on the family breeding a third horse selected the Olympics. Another dream come true?

For sure a dream come true! But that’s our challenge every time we breed, so “it’s nice when a plan comes together”.

There is also a link to a fourth Olympic horse, Kilcoltrim that jumped at the Seoul Olympics with John Ledingham, as both Going Global and Kilkenny go back to one of Ita’s earliest broodmares, a relation of his full-sister Trixie Lady (Bahrain).

2. Proudest moment(s) as a breeder?

There have been many proud moments including having MHS Going Global jump double clear on the Aga Kha winning team, the horses going to the Olympics, competing on the Global Champions Tour and every success the kids have had, big or small, whether with horses or ponies.

But, in reality, it’s when a horse you’ve bred reaches its true potential.

3. Kilkenny’s dam MHS Pembrook Lady (Guidam – Gowran Lady, by Cavalier Royale) is a half-sister to MHS Going Global. Tell us more about her.

Pembrook Lady, or Beyoncé as she was called at home, was a blood filly, as all the fillies out of Gowran Lady are and particularly so for a Guidam. We bred Kilkenny but we also had a full-sister to Beyoncé – or Madonna – so when Vivian Gath asked Tom if had he anything for Finbarr [Mulligan] and Joanne [Fox], he recommended this one. MHS Going Global was young at the time but we told Finbarr that this family was about to explode onto the scene. He hasn’t come back complaining since!

Jack, Sinead and Tom Brennan with Ger O'Neill on board MSH High Hopes, who was also bred by the family \ photo by Laurence dunne jumpinaction.net

4. Why did you select Cardento (Capitol I) to cover MHS Pembrook Lady?

We selected Cardento because a very good horse had jumped in Dublin called Glory Days for Sweden, who was by Cardento and out of an Irish mare by Diamond Serpent. Therefore the template had been made for a successful cross for Irish mares. So we took our chance and we were delighted with the result.

5. Kilkenny – tell us about his background story.

When Kilkenny arrived, he was a lovely blood foal, super movements and athletic in the field. We watched him grow and when he came to three, he was a stunner and when we jumped him, he proved himself to be everything we wanted in a horse.

So when Carol Gee approached us looking for a potential top show jumping horse, we had no hesitation in recommending this one.

Sophie Richards produced the horse for Carol from when he was a three-year-old through to seven, doing the Irish Horse Board Classes, winning the four-year-olds in Barnadown and being placed in Dublin the same year. They also appeared in Dublin in the age classes during this time.

At the end of his seven-year-old career, he was moved to Duarte Seabra in Portugal to continue his development and it was there that Cian O’Connor spotted him the following year. After a very successful season with Cian in Wellington, he is heading to the Olympics.

6. Tom mentioned last November that ‘the Queen’ – Gowran Lady – was due to Cornet Obolensky this year. Any update?

Happily, she had a stunning colt foal since, which hopefully will follow the path of his illustrious relations and maybe he will retain his jewels for a second career!

7. How many relatives of Kilkenny do you still have?

We have herself, ‘the Queen’; five more of her daughters and lots of granddaughters who are in the breeding system. Plenty of colts and geldings as well. So a family we are not willing to lose anytime soon.

8. Are you going to Tokyo/tuning in online/watching on TV?

We are going to Tokyo but only in spirit, because I prefer my fish cooked! In these trying times we will jump every jump with the team and Cian, while watching on every platform available.

9. It takes a team –who’s on the MHS team?

The team is headed by Tom but ably supported by our children – Ruth, Jack, James, Conor and David – who share Tom’s passion for horses and Tom’s brothers Michael, Tim, John and Paul and his sisters. Everyone has their own contributions, especially our oldest son Jack who has taken on a very pivotal role in the breeding side as veterinary is his chosen path. The boys are all keen on show jumping so this has been a busy week/summer on the road with their ponies.

10. If you won the Euromillions, would Tom get the go-ahead to spend it on more horses?

If I won the Euromillions, it would only replenish what has already been spent!