TONY and Anne O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, were inducted into the ITBA Hall of Fame last Sunday night.

The couple received a standing ovation from the 300 guests at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association National Breeding and Racing Awards in The Heritage, Killenard, Co Laois.

Located on limestone land close to Lough Ennell, Tally-Ho has been under the ownership of the couple for over 40 years, and the family enterprise is run by the pair with their sons, Roger and Henry.

Since its purchase in the late 1970s, Tally-Ho Stud has earned a reputation for being a leader in every sector of the thoroughbred business. One of the largest consignors of thoroughbreds at the sales in both Ireland and England, Tally-Ho is equally at home selling homebreds, pinhooking and breezing two-year-olds.

However, the breeding industry has particular reason to be grateful for the farm’s ability to make successful sires. Kodiac is a shining example, a stallion whom breeders could have used for just €4,000, but is now among the most successful stallions in Europe. Furthermore, two of the sire’s best runners, Group 1 winners Campanelle and Fairyland, were bred by the O’Callaghans.

In 2020 and 2021, Tally-Ho stallions Mehmas and Cotai Glory have been prolific first-season stallions, the latter having been available to breeders for a number of seasons for just €5,000.

Tally-Ho has bred Group 1 winners, pinhooked Group 1 winners, breezed Group 1 winners, and stood stallions who sired Group 1 winners. Last year the farm bred dual Group 1 winning juvenile Perfect Power, and sold him as a breezer for £110,000. Remarkably he is a son of Ardad, (by Kodiac) a colt that Tally-Ho also bred and breezed.

Perfect Power and Ebro River are just the two most recent Group 1 winners produced and nurtured at Tally-Ho Stud, and they all are testament to the skill and professionalism of the team that has Tony and Anne O’Callaghan at its head. Video tributes to the O’Callaghans were paid by their two sons, along with Tony’s brother Noel O’Callaghan, HRI chairman Nicky Hartery, Henry Beeby and Eimear Mulhern of Goffs, Anthony Stroud, breeders Austin Lyons and Mick Lyons, and bloodstock journalist Martin Stevens.

Roger and Henry spoke of their mother’s foaling skills and their father’s ability to deal with the inevitable setbacks that came their way, such as the loss of the stallion Danetime just as he looked set to hit the big time.

Breeder Mick Lyons added: “When you go down to Tally-Ho, Tony will make you feel welcome whether you are using the €5,000 stallion or the €30,000 stallion. Everyone is treated the same.”

Noel O’Callaghan said: “They look after their clients particularly well. Especially at the foal sales, their support for clients is second to none.”

Quizzed by MC Leo Powell, Tony admitted he and Anne never planned on building such an empire. “We just kept pushing all the time,” he said.

Asked for what he looks for in a potential stallion, Tony said: “Speed and the ability to pay for them! Mind you, we have the odd bad one too.”

Award winners

Small Breeder: Patrick Burns, Newlands House Stud

Special Recognition: Julian Lloyd

Next Generation: Michael and Laurence Gleeson

Novice Hurdler: Appreciate It - Barmakin Ltd & South Lodge Stud

Novice Chaser: Shishkin – C.J. & E.B. Bennett

National Hunt Mare: Colreevy - Niall Flynn

Hurdler: Flooring Porter - Sean Murphy

Chaser: Minella Indo – Anne Lalor

Two-Year-Old Filly: Flotus - Newtown Stud & T.J. Pabst

Two-Year-Old Colt: Luxembourg (B.V. Sangster) & Perfect Power (Tally Ho Stud)

Three-Year-Old Filly: Alcohol Free (Churchtown House Stud) & Suesa (Thomastown Farm Ltd)

Three-Year-Old Colt: Adayar - Godolphin

Wild Geese: Gabriel and Aisling Duignan

Contribution to the Industry: David Minton

Hall of Fame: Tony and Anne O’Callaghan