Combining a career in television production with a love of horses and racing has led this week’s candidate to a lifestyle that brings together the best of both of those worlds.
This week we find out more about Siobhan Miller, who with husband Michael Christian, blazed the trail for using video to promote yearlings and stallions through Sirecam, before going on to develop their own thoroughbred breeding enterprise Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in Victoria.
1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
I grew up in Melbourne and as kids we were allowed to pick a horse for the Melbourne Cup and my Dad would put our bets on. My earliest memory of the Melbourne Cup was choosing Gold and Black for the win - I must have been about 6 years old, I bought ice cream and chocolates with my winnings.
As a child I learnt to ride on a full Arab called Mouse, he was kind and head strong and provided me with a great introduction to riding. I have always loved horses and living close to Flemington we would occasionally attend the races, but it wasn’t until I finished school that I became a regular race goer - I remember being thrilled after years as a Restricted Member, becoming a Full Member of the VRC.
My work colleagues Stephen Pirrie and Johnny Hillier (Keith Hillier's son) were heavily into racing and much of our client work included racing industry participants and clubs. Johnny is a very talented artist and back in the day created some of the most incredible paintings that were featured on the cover of Race books. In the early 2000’s I was sharing a house with Mark Guest (who was working at Sky Racing at the time) and I was working for Channel 10 - racing was a part of daily life - Guesty was always watching his VHS tapes doing form - our other housemates were keen racegoers.
2000 was my first foray into ownership, it was a few 10% shares with some workmates and as they say …. I bought a horse … then I bought another one!
I first met Michael Christian in 2000 and launched Sirecam in 2003 - we were the first to film thoroughbreds and promote them online - it was dial up back then and because internet access was still limited we created DVD’s that we would mail all over the world to market Australian thoroughbreds to the international market. I loved being able to utilise my broadcast and media experience with thoroughbreds, I look back now and realise how ahead of the times we were.
The next chapter with Longwood Thoroughbred Farm is a very exciting one and I love the business we are building.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Siobhan Miller look like?
I am currently working with Racing.com so my work day at present involves managing the creation of race day broadcast assets and managing client integration in broadcast. Racing.com have recently commenced broadcasting from new Studios at Docklands and it's a very exciting time to be involved!
I spend a few hours every evening working on Longwood planning and development also managing our marketing and sales collateral.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
I absolutely loved Sunline! I loved her fiery temperament and what an incredible race horse she was!
I witnessed all her Cox Plate runs and vividly remember her third tilt at the Cox Plate against Northerly - what a race. The bond Greg Childs and Claire Bird shared with her was something very special.
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
We bred a filly by Choisir from our mare Runaway Jesse, who was born on my birthday - Eloping was special from the beginning.
Eloping was scheduled to run in the G3 Royal Randwick Stakes which was incredibly exciting however we had a clash! Months earlier we had organised for our boys to run out on to the MCG with Collingwood, an absolute highlight for any young boy. We decided that Michael would take the boys to the MCG and I would head to Sydney.
The market didn't give her much chance as she was backing up from running 7th in the Slipper, where nothing went right and she didn’t handle the ground, they had her at $17.
I watched from the stands at Randwick and Michael was watching the race on his phone from the players race at the MCG.
Eloping led all the way - it was a huge run and probably the highlight of her career.
Last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale was a huge thrill. We sold an I Am Invincible filly out of Eloping, that we bred with Segenhoe for $900k and a colt we bred with Widden Stud out of Fuddle Dee Duddle for $1m.
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
You can always catch me watching True Crime
6/ Now that travel has opened again where is the first place you will go?
Western Australia - we haven’t seen our family over there for almost 3 years due to CoVid.
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
Japanese, Koko’s or Nobu at Crown is a favourite
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
I would love to attend the Arqana yearling sales at Deauville and to visit Coolmore Stud in Ireland.
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
You can’t please everyone - be kind, work hard and always be grateful.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
I once rendered assistance to a complete stranger and later found out I’d saved his life.
