2009 Trainee Views

November, Ireland

The old adage about how time flies when you’re having fun certainly rang true for the Darley Flying Starters during the Irish leg of our two year adventure around the world. It seemed that almost as soon as we had we moved into our houses on the stud, settled into breaking yearling in the yards and got to know almost all the team at Kildangan, it was time to leave for Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.

At the end of our last review, the team was just heading off to Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The rest is history and everyone knows that it will be quite some time again before we witness another horse in the same league as Sea The Stars. From the autumnal beauty of Longchamp we retuned to face the much dreaded final exam in the Equine Anatomy and Physiology module. However thanks in no small part to the great team at UCD Veterinary College, coupled with many, many hours of studying by the group everyone performed very well and we are all grateful to Dr Emmeline Hill for coordinating what was a hugely beneficial and interesting course.

Out in the yards our practical experience of breaking yearlings went very well and all the team enjoyed working with the horses on a daily basis, whilst making friends with many of the staff at Kildangan. Once broken, many of the yearlings were flown directly to Newmarket for the next stage in their careers, primarily with the Godolphin and Hamilton Hill training centres. It was both exciting and a little sad to see them go but hopefully we will continue to work with some of them during our practical placements in Newmarket and no doubt among the bunch there will be future Group 1 winners and champions.

The remaining five weeks in Kildangan were also punctuated with guest lectures and interesting off-site visits to organisations and facilities such as Ballysheehan Stud and Coolmore Stud (where the hospitality was simply outstanding). At Troytown Equine Hospital Warren Schofield gave us an enlightening insight into Thermal and Nuclear Scintigraphy whilst Ursula Fogarty delivered a number of equally enlightening lectures on topics such as Pathology and Equine Diseases at the Irish Equine Centre. David O’Connell took us through the whole area of Pasture Management, whilst veterinary surgeon Meta Osborne and equine dentist Brian Coonan gave practical demonstrations of their respective professions. A visit to Fairyhouse racecourse and a discussion with manager Caroline Gray exposed the group to some of the managerial and financial facets of Irish Racing. Michael O’Hagan from Irish Thoroughbred Marketing took time out from his exhausting schedule to lecture the group on marketing the Irish thoroughbred, whilst Des Leadon MRCVS continued the theme with a most interesting presentation on international horse transport welfare issues. Henry Beeby hosted the team at Goffs for a discussion on how a bloodstock auction house is run whilst Joe Osborne kept us informed of strategic developments in Darley with regular management meetings on Friday afternoons.

Our ten weeks in Kildangan culminated with the Annual Darley Flying Start Conference and the Ambassador’s Lunch. Newly located in the PGA National at Palmerstown House, this year’s conference was a terrific success with over seventy industry professionals in attendance to listen to the twelve papers presented by the team, all themed around the Irish racing product. Topics such as the “Popularity of Flat racing versus National Hunt” and “Getting the Next Generation Involved” were discussed, along with Veer Vikram Singh’s most amusing insight into his international betting experiences. Afterwards, an excellent buffet supper gave us all the opportunity to meet and socialise with those in attendance, some of whom had kindly hosted us or delivered guest lectures throughout our time in Ireland. On the next day we hosted the Annual Ambassador’s Lunch at Kildangan House which was attended by ambassadors and diplomats from the trainee’s home countries, along with leading figures from the Irish thoroughbred industry and this was another invaluable networking opportunity afforded to the group.

On Friday 29 October the Flying Start Dozen departed Ireland for Newmarket. Ryanair whose 15kg baggage limit tested even the most sentimental person’s desire to own material possessions, will have had their staff Christmas party paid for by the amount we spent on excess baggage! A wonderful time had been enjoyed but us all in Ireland, but we were also excited by the prospect of spending six weeks in Newmarket before heading to Kentucky after Christmas. Our two new team leaders Jenny Barnett and Ludovic Cornuel will keep you informed of our progress in the UK’s horseracing capital.

Bernard Condren and Chris Armstrong

Click here for a list of all 2009 trainee views