Course News, September 2005

Over the past couple of months I feel that the Darley Flying Start course has really gained support and recognition within the industry, by virtue of the fact that we are now in our third year, and our graduates are in the workplace.

 

I bumped into two graduates in Australia in August, and five more at Goffs sales in Ireland this week, all of them working in the industry. At sales, race meetings and social events I am approached by people who are interested in finding out about the current trainees, or may be interested in applying themselves.

The website is really popular, and on a recent visit to Coolmore stud in Ireland the trainees were amazed at how much the people who welcomed us there knew about them!
Our focus for the next year is to improve our accessibility to a wider number of people of different nationalities and to continue to ensure the course meets the needs of its trainees and the industry. We are working on an updated DVD for 2006/2007 to include footage from Australia and Dubai.

Our current new crop of trainees are based at Kildangan at the moment and are busy trying to come to grips with Irish pedigrees and racing. They are at Goffs sales this week and are accompanying bloodstock agents, auctioneers and trainers as they evaluate stock with a view to purchasing or selling. This is a wonderful opportunity for the trainees, and we are very grateful for those industry professionals who are helping them to learn about yearling sales. Next week its business as usual, with mornings spent assisting in the breaking of yearlings and afternoons in lectures at Kildangan. In October, we will have our Darley Flying Start conference at the Keadeen Hotel where the trainees will give presentations based around a bloodstock sales theme.

The second years are at Darley Australia at the moment, doing their second stud season having completed a Northern Hemisphere season at Jonabell Farm, Kentucky . They are getting further experience in foaling, pedigree research, nominations, mares, stallions and with Scone Veterinary Hospital. They played an active role in the organization and running of the Darley stallion parade and have received a great welcome from the staff and management in Australia. Emma Ridley who is their co-ordinator has put together an excellent list of speakers, topics and visits for them and is currently working on their placements which will take place at the end of November. For the first time, this year we will have some trainees placed in New Zealand.

Recruitment time is nearly upon us again, we will accept applications in January and February 06, so if you are interested or know someone who might be, please e mail us for a brochure and DVD.

Clodagh Kavanagh