2009 Trainee Views

September, Ireland

On the 17th August 2009, after months of anticipation, the 2009 group of 12 Darley Flying Start trainees arrived at Kildangan Stud for the start of an epic adventure that will literally take us all over the world in the next two years. This year’s team includes representatives from countries as far afield as China, India, New Zealand, USA, UK, France and Ireland. Upon arrival, and having moved into our houses on the stud, we were all treated to a lovely lunch in Kildangan House, and warmly welcomed by the key personnel at the stud. At first everyone was a little shy, but by dessert it was clear that the team would easily gel together – no doubt helped by the common denominator which is our great interest in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry.

The first week mainly involved induction and getting to know our way around the 1,500 acres of Kildangan Stud and the locality, culminating with the annual Kildangan Stud Summer BBQ. This afforded a great opportunity to meet many more members of staff, and enjoy one of the last summer evenings. Yet again the once-annual ‘tug of war’ contest did not materialise, however the sports fanatics among us were well catered for with events such as the Sack Race, 60m Dash and the Three-Legged Race, with New Zealand’s Vicky Leonard winning a terrific haul of medals. Our first visit outside of Kildanagan Stud took us to Ragusa Stud, Blackhall Stud and Old Connell Stud. It was a great chance to see some incredible broodmares prospects such as Satwa Queen, multiple Group 1 winner Saorise Abu and Dubai Sunrise (a full sister to Dubai Millennium). Stud managers Anthony Callan, Mick Murphy and David Brophy gave us a great insight into Sheikh Mohammed’s extensive bloodstock interests in Ireland.

Before receiving our mountain bikes from Danny Mulvihill at Kildangan, the group’s only method of transport was provided by Chris Armstrong – whose car was soon being used for numerous trips to the shops and supermarkets in Kildare and Newbridge. However, once given our new wheels there was a smell of burning rubber on the roads of Kildangan, and it wasn’t long before Bernard ended up head first in some of the stud’s hawthorn hedges, not once but three times no less!

The first few weekends gave the overseas members of the team their first taste of European racing, at the Curragh, attending a rather washed out renewal of the Moyglare Stud Stakes due to poor weather and a few weeks later the Irish St Leger meeting, where thankfully the weather was infinitely better. We were lucky to attend the unique Laytown races on a beautiful evening at the Co. Meath coast, Ireland’s only beach racing venue. However the racing highlight thus far was easily up the road in Leopardstown where John Oxx’s superstar Sea The Stars won his fifth Group 1 in five months. It was a great thrill for the team to visit John Oxx’s stable in week 6 and to see this wonderful horse at close quarters. Continuing with the Sea The Stars theme, we also saw his three parts brother (by Invincible Spirit) during a visit to the Irish National Stud, and were given a guided tour by Sally Carroll and Sinead Hyland.

The team has been attending the Veterinary College at UCD a number of times each week for lectures in Equine Anatomy and Physiology and so far this particular module has been an invaluable learning experience, although a lot of work is required to keep up, especially for those with no background in the subject. Before starting our practical work in the yards, assisting with breaking yearlings, we attended RACE in Kildare for a refresher course in areas such as grooming, tacking-up, lunging and driving horses in long reins and of course everyone got a spin on the famous racehorse simulators as well! During the Orby Sale at Goffs each of the 12 trainees have been assisting a bloodstock agent or trainer in selecting and purchasing yearlings – this has been a terrific experience for all involved, and no doubt future Group 1 winners will have been viewed (and hopefully selecteded) by some of the team!

The first few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and following a visit to Co. Tipperary to see Ballysheehan and Coolmore Studs, the team will be heading to Paris early on Saturday morning to cheer on Sea The Stars in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. A visit to Arqana Sales in Saint Cloud Sale might perhaps give us a chance to practice the horse selection skills we learned at Goffs from purchasers such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, John Warren, Blandford Bloodstock, John McCormack, Mark Johnston, and Darley management and Darley Flying Start graduates Ed Sackville and Ben Haslam.

Chris Armstrong and Bernard Condren
September 2009

Click here for a list of all 2009 trainee views