2008 Trainee Views

October - December 2008 - Newmarket, UK

Our final day in Ireland passed in a blur of presentations, packing up and a final visit to Cunninghams bar in Kildare town, and then it was straight onto a plane the next morning for the short flight over to the UK. Brian and Charlie had decided to drive, and survived some Welsh road rage to join the rest of the group in Newmarket where we were all warmly welcomed by Trisha, our course coordinator here. The boys settled into their shared accommodation block, and the girls thought they had struck lucky with an isolated cottage all to themselves. That luxury did not last long, though, as they soon had to give up their isolation and move in to the same accommodation as the boys. There were some important early English lessons to be learned, such as how to cross a ‘magic roundabout’ and what real ale tastes like!

We were immediately made to feel at home at Dalham Hall, with Liam O’Rourke and Sam Bullard encouraging us all to make the most of our short stay in Newmarket. We soon got to grips with the ‘Headquarters of Racing’, taking in visits to the vast array of gallops, the racecourses with Michael Prosser and the sacred halls of the Jockey Club Rooms. Extensive tours of training yards such as David Lanigan’s and Michael Jarvis’ brought up many take-home-tips for the aspiring trainers among us. Diana Cooper’s enthusiastic tour of Godolphin was also fantastic, and a visit to Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud allowed us to see an Arc winner in Rail Link, two sires of Arc winners in Dansili and Zamindar, as well as the imperious Oasis Dream. The doping control laboratory at HFL and the impressive Newmarket Equine Hospital were highlights on the scientific side. With the flat season almost over, we took in the last meeting at Newmarket but other opportunities to go to the races have been scarce. Some of the group did make it to Sandown to see a spring-healed Masterminded win the Tingle Creek, a performance that has earned him the lofty accolade of becoming Chance’s favourite NH horse.

Lectures from Barney Curley and Bill Oppenheim provoked heated philosophical discussion, and everyone has relished the opportunity to learn from experts such as Geoff Lane and Alex Scrope. A media skills workshop with Rishi Persad certainly brought out the Primadonna in PJ, whilst also raising the contentious issues of Vegetarianism and Shakey Hands…..!

Soon the practical rotation began, with a third of the group spending time at Hamilton Hill pre-training centre with a chance to continue working with yearlings from Kildangan, a third doing a tour of the different departments in the Dalham office, and the final third going to the British Racing School where they would learn to ride out. With riding abilities varying from ‘licensed jockey’ to “I’ve ridden Western, but I only used one hand and didn’t move much”, this was always going to be interesting. It did not disappoint, with horses bolting, falling and foaming at the mouth (Gary?), and very sore thighs all round. Sue Donnelly’s teaching skills and patience have never faced a sterner test, but all of us had a fantastic week at the BRS and wish to say a huge thank you to her.

The start of December saw the two weeks of foal and breeding stock sales at Tattersalls. A delicious meal with Joe Osborne at Tattersalls raised the spirits as the weather took a cold turn. Martin Mitchell gave us a great lecture on the world’s oldest sales company before doing his best to lead the group astray with some English hospitality that easily matched that of the Irish! Some of the group took the chance to rejoin agents they had spent time with at Goffs, while two trainees obviously read too far into the idea of inbreeding to superior mares, and left the sale with a share in a mare in what some called the shrewdest buy of the whole sale!

We have all had a wonderful time in the home of racing and are looking forward to coming back for our graduation at the end of the course. Although it sounds a long way off, if the last four months are anything to go by, the year and a half before we return will fly by. Thanks to all the people that made this stay so exceptional, and especially to Trisha McMurray who has run the show here and smoothed over any timetabling hiccups with consummate ease. We were all overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Irish at the beginning of the course, but that welcome occurred in at least the same measure here in England. We can’t wait to head to Kentucky in the New Year, and to another incredible eighteen months as Darley Flying Start Trainees. The German and the Englishman signing out!

Melanie Sauer and Charlie Vaughan-Fowler

Click here for a list of all 2008 trainee views

The group with Dansili