Sheamus Mills, in his lilting Irish accent, projects a sense of timelessness which could be placed right beside his clear-eyed version of the here and now. With subtlety and eloquence, Mills, tells a wondrous tale of exploration and discovery which led to the ‘making’ of the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner, Vow and Declare.
Mills was speaking to me over the phone, while he was in America for the broodmare sale at Keeneland. He explained that his brief was restricted to fillies with “sprint potential to take back to Australia.” He clarified that although Vow and Declare was a fantastic Australian bred stayer, the Australian market wanted speed and thus he was shopping for ‘speedy mares or mares with speed in their pedigree.’
Sheamus Mills met Vow and Declare’s owner Paul Lanskey when he was the Racing manager for Mike Pierce. The latter sold Vow and Declare’s dam Geblitzt (by Testa Rossa) to Lansky to race. Eventually, she was retired to the breeding shed.
The well-known agent is an adviser to Vow and Declare’s breeder and part-owner, Paul Lanskey, on his breeding decisions who remains a hobby breeder but sells commercially.
Lanskey still owns Vow and Declare’s dam, Geblitzt, which is currently in foal to American Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, American Pharoah.
Lycurgus, her first foal by Gr.1 Blue Diamond winning-Star Witness showed staying potential. However, he lacked in length and physique needed to be a top-quality stayer. Both of these developments were, “unexpected” said Mills.
“We wanted a foal with more stretch in the leg and a bigger size.”
“Physical compatibility was our original attraction but given that the brother was showing signs of staying, we sought a stallion around a miler, pedigree-wise.”
“Declaration Of War was in Australia at the time and he seemed ideal,” said Mills.
Vow and Declare is definitely an anomaly, which was proven when Lansky and Mills tried to sell him.
“We tried to sell Vow and Declare but thankfully he didn’t sell.”
“It worked out well that when he didn’t sell as he was syndicated among mates, including Geoff Corrigan who is also a client of mine. It’s great that he is racing for a group of mates and clients.”
The Victorian bloodstock agent and TBV Member revealed that his involvement in the success of Vow and Declare in the Melbourne Cup, wasn’t his only brush with success recently,” I’ve had 8 stakes winners in the last 12 months from matings which I was involved in. I have had a lot of support from clients.”
Interestingly, Mills doesn’t come from one of the racing families which abound in Victoria. Rather he has an unusual story to tell, “Dad used to take me racing as a child. That was where I learned about horses.”
“I eventually became a school teacher. However, after a year, I decided I wanted to work with horses.”
“My parents wanted me to have a job with a regular wage and a long term career. School teaching would offer both.”
“However, I was pretty passionate about what I wanted to do.”
“I went back to being a student and a part-term work.”
“My parents were very surprised. My first job involved cleaning-out stables at a stud farm.”
After successful completion of the Diploma Of Horse Studies (Breeding), were awarded the Vanuatu Betting Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement, Sheamus started his career working hands-on horses at Chatswood Stud and later Dreelburn Stud.
“But down the line I believe I made the right move.”