BREEDER and sales consignor Audrey Thompson of Kilmore Stud was buried yesterday in Golden, Co Tipperary. In her 96th year, she passed away peacefully on Wednesday.

Her second cousin Andrew Thompson said: “Audrey had a good life and horses were always a part of it. She started hunting with the Tipps as a child, competed in the RDS as a teenager, and then decided to breed thoroughbreds, having been introduced to racing by her father, Marcus, who pinhooked the great stayer Brown Jack.”

Audrey’s first big winner was Truly Thankful, winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1971. She also bred Then Again, winner of the 1987 Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting, and Czar Alexandra, who finished second to Sir Ivor in the 1968 Washington DC International.

“In the late 1960s, she was one of the first Irish breeders to send yearlings to Tattersalls in Newmarket. Along with Percy and Sheila Harris of Athassel Stud, and John and Biddy O’Connor of Rock Abbey, they paved the way for today’s generation.”

Audrey never married or had children. Her life was devoted to farming. “A lot of cattle went through her hands and she also bred a lot of sheep. She would regularly get the top price at Cashel Mart,” Andrew said.

“I have been helping her on the farm for 30 years. She had a stroke five years ago but it was only in the last six months her health really deteriorated.”