NOT everyone in life gets to return to their first love in terms of profession, but Nickey Murphy of Killisk Stud in Co Wexford has done just that. The 35-year-old had worked in various aspects of the horse business as a young man, from riding out racehorses, doing breakers to working with draught stallions, before leaving it behind to enter the auto trade.

Now the general manager of the well-known car dealership Bolands in Wexford town, he, along with wife, Niamh, launched his latest venture in 2024, going back to his equine passion.

Originally from Gorey town with no background in horses but now based in The Ballagh, near Enniscorthy (“Denis Murphy [trainer] is at the other side of the village”), Nickey hasn’t given up the day job, but is relishing taking on the extra work.

He explains: “It is a busy life, but I love being busy. The horses are a passion. I love the position that I am in at work and it enables me to have the horses here and make a go of it.

“My wife Niamh is cabin crew for Aer Lingus. She has a busy life as well. She doesn’t come from a horsey background either, but loves having the horses around, feeds them, looks after them and enjoys it. She is very supportive of the yard and loves meeting people. She is great at that element of it.”

First stallions

Mores Wells and Tip Two Win were their first stallions, arriving for the 2025 breeding season but, unfortunately, the first-named succumbed to a paddock accident not long into the season, while the latter didn’t arrive in time for the 2025 Stallion Trail, so the season didn’t live up to their hopes. However, the couple weren’t deterred and went about sourcing more recruits.

Nickey relates: “After losing Mores Wells, we decided to look for another stallion and, after a while, a few different horses were on the cards. We went down to Kilbarry Lodge Stud to see Pillar Coral and he was just absolutely stunning, a lot of presence about him. Con O’Keeffe was an absolute gentleman to deal with and it all worked out. We are delighted to get him.

“Racinger was also on the cards at the same time. We didn’t have any intention of standing more than two stallions, but the opportunity came up and we talked to Donal White of Foxwood Stud. We said, sure look, we have two young horses and an established sire like him might just add another element to it.

“I feel he suited a different type of customer. If someone was in two minds about Pillar Coral, I can say ‘Come down and look at the two of them, if you don’t want to go for the younger horse, Racinger is a fantastic option. Look, he covered 30 mares for Donal last year, I think. He will cover away, I don’t think he will do huge numbers.”

Tip Two Win has a speedy pedigree which could work in National Hunt breeding

Speedy son

The 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win is a different type, as a speedy son of Dark Angel, but he can be appealing not just to flat breeders but to NH breeders thinking outside of the box, as Nickey explains.

“Tip Two Win came to us last year, but we missed the Stallion Trail with him. There was plenty of interest, but he probably didn’t cover the amount of mares we thought he would. We probably hadn’t got the word out there fast enough and people had maybe made their minds up where they were going already.

“He was a tough and classy racehorse, plus is a lovely horse. He covered flat mares last year, didn’t cover any NH mares, but some local NH breeders are kind of looking at him because there are plenty of old-type pedigrees - stayers bred to stayers bred to stayers - that maybe need an injection of speed back into the pedigree. I would love to see him cover some NH mares.”

Overall, Nickey and Niamh are just really excited to get people into the yard to see the horses during the ITM Irish Stallion Trail.

“If people are here on the day and willing to commit to cover one or two then by all means we will deal with them. For us, it is about getting soldiers on the ground at this point, developing a customer base, a clientele, as we are coming from absolutely nothing. We are offering value and it stops people in this part of Wexford from having to travel too far.

“We both enjoy the people side of the business, breeders coming to the yard and sharing their hopes and dreams about the foal they have or the one that isn’t even conceived yet! That is what the game is about really and keeps the industry alive. We have legs and bits and pieces of mares. We have four mares in the place at the minute, besides the stallions.

“The fun part is the journey and the lead-up to races, as the races themselves only last a few minutes. Look, the hope for the future is that we continue to stand nice stallions and develop lasting relationships with people along the way.”

Email: nickey@killiskfarm.ie

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