2007 Trainee Views

NSW, Australia - August 2008

A rested and relaxed team were greeted in Sydney, Australia on 12th August, by fine and fresh weather conditions that were considerably more inviting than the frosty reception provided in Lexington in January. A longer than expected trip to the small country town of Aberdeen, NSW then followed as the group were introduced to their new home for the next five months, again differing considerably from our Kentucky base during the first half of the year. After settling into our accommodation and testing the menu at the Commercial Hotel for dinner, the group were warmly welcomed to Darley Australia by General Manager, Olly Tait. He provided great insight into the magnitude, vision and goals of the Australian component of Sheikh Mohammed’s global Thoroughbred operation. The organisation has obviously undergone significant expansion in recent months following the acquisition of the Ingham’s bloodstock empire, and the open discussion and presentation of Darley’s aims and objectives for the future, provided the group with an exceptional illustration of the burgeoning significance of Darley within the Australian industry.

An occupational health and safety induction then followed and the group become familiarised with the property at Aberdeen, with an extensive tour provided by Stud Manager John Sunderland, who later presented the key differences between managing a Thoroughbred stud farm in Australia compared to other countries. Nominations Manager, Alastair Pulford outlined the process of selecting suitable shuttle stallions from the northern hemisphere, and then how to best promote those horses to the Australian market. Olly again provided the group with an insight into key personalities in the Australian Thoroughbred industry, both human and equine, and a busy but interesting first week culminated in a fantastic dinner with Darley Australia management on the Friday evening.

The second week of the Australian leg of the course signalled the commencement of the practical roster. Over the subsequent five months, the group will spend time in the Darley Australia office, participate in the management of foaling, lactating and dry mares, yearlings and stallions, and be exposed to the agricultural management of a property the size of Darley Aberdeen. The opportunity for the group to attend an Australian country race meeting presented itself with a bumper eight race card at Skeletar Park Race Track, Muswellbrook. A different class of horse confronted the group at this Monday meeting, but all enjoyed the ease of access and competitive nature of the fields presented, as well as a long-awaited opportunity for a number of members of the team to re-acquaint themselves with fixed-price wagering and bookmakers. The foreign members of the team were afforded an insight into the Victorian, New Zealand and Western Australian Thoroughbred industries by Liam, Andy and myself. This supplemented a fantastic afternoon spent with Darley Australia Director, Henry Plumptre, covering a vast array of topics including the expansion of the Victorian operation at Seymour, yearling selection principles and the Hong Kong racing industry. An afternoon session with Alastair provided a different and motivating discussion regarding the principles of sales and marketing in general, as well as concepts specific to the marketing of Thoroughbred horses and the client-stud relationship. This provided the group with a sound background to discuss a wide-range of topics in a brilliant evening session with Darley Australia Marketing Manager, Tania Henry-May.

The third week of the course included the morning practical rotation through each of the Darley Australia divisions, followed by the commencement of a four-week Equine Nursing module undertaken every afternoon at Scone TAFE. The group receives a wide-range of veterinary nursing and breeding management lectures from key industry personnel in the Hunter Valley, which is supplemented with a week rotation through the Scone Veterinary Hospital and its various departments. The last weekend of August signalled the stallion parades of three of the Hunter Valley’s major breeding operations in Patinack Farm, Darley Australia and Coolmore Australia, with Arrowfield Stud showing their select group of stallions the weekend before. Four members of the group travelled to Seymour, Victoria for Darley’s stallion show in that state, with host Liam providing Ian, Cathal and Kyle with a more than memorable experience. The boys attended early morning trackwork at Flemington, followed by high-class racing at Caulfield with Weekend Hussler taking out the Memsie Stakes, but unfortunately witnessed the final race of champion sprinting mare Miss Andretti. This action-packed day was completed at an Australian Rules Football match between Hawthorn and Carlton, which saw Lance “Buddy” Franklin kick 100 goals in a season, and the foreign boys fall in love with the pace and action of our national game. The weekend trip ended with a very professional and productive stallion parade at Darley Seymour, also experienced at the larger and just as impressive parade at Darley Aberdeen, where a good time was had by all and many of the stallions looked fantastic having travelled halfway around the world to be there.

The visiting members of the group have embraced Australian country culture, with most “looking forward to having a frothie and quaddie in the Mmerch on a Saturdie arvie”. Integration of trainees with the team at Darley Australia is facilitated by the lunch room at the property at Darley Aberdeen, an innovative idea that encourages staff interactions and provides the opportunity to approach management with any issues, in a relaxed and open setting. The group have thoroughly enjoyed the first few weeks of their visit to Australia, and very much look forward to experiencing the excitement and colour that is the Melbourne Spring Carnival, a week spent in the city for a leadership module at the University of Sydney, and the second of our month-long work placements in either Australia or New Zealand. The operation of the breeding and racing aspects of the Thoroughbred industry in Australia differs significantly from the Northern hemisphere, and the trainees are approaching this diversity with enthusiastic, open minds, and stand to learn a great deal from the passionate team at Darley Australia during their stay.

Jason Walsh

Click here for a list of all 2007 trainee views

Darley's picturesque Aberdeen office