TOM Ronan, who died recently at the age of 94, established a successful bloodstock breeding operation at his home in Fethard. He took particular pride in the success of the dam line he established through his foundation broodmare Persian Union, who went on to produce among others Golden Horus, winner of the Gimcrack Stakes and the first stallion to stand in Coolmore. In his early years he raced a number of fillies in France when it was quite exotic to do so. A full obituary appears in Horse World on page A67.