CALL Me Lyreen winning the Liffey Handicap Hurdle at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival was a proud moment.

The Gordon Elliott trained gelding was one of the first three-year-olds that I helped prep for the sales when I arrived at Boardsmill Stud.

Subsequently bought by Aidan O’Ryan at the 2019 Derby Sale, he went on to win four races over hurdles and twice over fences.

A repeat bid for the Grade 3 handicap hurdle could be on the cards this weekend, although connections have an alternative option in a handicap chase.

I have to confess that I never had a huge interest in racing growing up, although I did watch the big events on television with my grandfather. He kept a draught mare or two and was also interested in hunting.

Having learned to ride at a local equestrian centre when I was nine, I did a small bit of hunting in my teenage years but that was as far as it went. After finishing my Leaving Certificate, I went on to study a Bachelors of Business in Equine at Gurteen College in Co Tipperary.

A girl I became friendly with on that course suggested that I should get a part-time job in a racing yard, just to see if that life appealed to me. During second year, I started riding out in Gavin Cromwell’s and was immediately bitten by the bug!

Aside from riding out/mucking out, I got to go racing a few times that the yard had runners. The undoubted highlight was accompanying Raz De Maree to Chepstow in January 2018, when the 13-year-old won the Welsh Grand National.

The following year, after graduating from college, I went to work full-time at Boardsmill Stud. While I had the basics of riding and handling thoroughbreds, I was essentially starting from scratch when it came to stud work.

In one way, I was fortunate to be thrown in at the deep end, during what was a typically busy breeding season. Almost immediately, I was holding mares for vets, watching covers and helping out with coverings.

Despite having no previous knowledge, I took an interest in pedigrees and breeding from the outset, following the future careers of the foals that we looked after at the stud.

The sales season is my favourite part of the entire year; I love bringing the foals on from birth, getting them ready to be sold once they reach the age of three.

Great mentors

Boardsmill Stud is a small operation, so everyone here has been very giving with their time and expertise. Kevin Foley, John Flood and John O’Connell have been great mentors to me, teaching me everything about foaling down, bringing horses along and sales prep.

John Flood always encouraged me to do more in order to push myself and become a better person. He gave me more responsibility as time went on; showing new staff around the stud and helping them settle in.

Boardsmill Stud is a fantastic place to learn, as you need never be afraid to ask a question or for help.

Last year, John nominated me for an award at The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards. To be honest, when he told me, I just said “thanks.” I never thought that anything would come of it, afterall, I am a relative newcomer to the racing/breeding industry.

I was genuinely shocked to later find out that I had won one of the Godolphin-sponsored prizes.

The whole process is incredibly well run - aside from the different videos and interviews, we had a very enjoyable prestation ceremony at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge.

Just to be standing up there with some amazing people who have given so much to the industry made me feel very proud. It was an award not just for myself but for all the management and my colleagues at Boardsmill Stud.

Having come in as a complete novice just over three years ago, it was very rewarding to be honoured by my peers. I know that only for the patience and support of all those I work with, I wouldn’t have been in such a position.

Being put forward by my boss was recognition in itself, so being named a winner was an added bonus.

Long term, I’d love to stay at Boardsmill Stud, in a job where I am very content. Hopefully we can continue to enjoy plenty more success with the horses we consign at sales.

Call Me Lyreen is still only seven-years-old, so should have more big days ahead. His full-brother, Lucky Lyreen, who won a bumper at Down Royal on St Stephens Day, is the latest of that family to represent Boardsmill Stud on the racecourse.

A graduate of the 2021 Derby Sale, he followed a similar route to his older sibling, in being bought by Aidan O’Ryan for trainer Gordon Elliott. It gives me so much job satisfaction to see horses such as those, that I have been involved with since they were three-year-olds, go on to success under rules.

Stephanie McGinley was in conversation with John O’Riordan.