Course News - February 07

 

February is always a busy month on Flying Start. As the deadline for applications nears, the mail increases every day, and 2007 is no exception. We’ve had applications from across the world again this year and applicants will know whether they have been selected for interview or not by early March.

I visited the second year group in Dubai this month. I met Dan at Godolphin, Craig at Mike de Kocks, Gerry and Isabel at International Stables and caught up with the other trainees at the races as they assisted the racing officials of the ERA. Each trainee had their individual appraisals as well which took place at the Emirates Academy. The appraisals at this stage are largely based on ideas for the upcoming business plan assignment and essential career guidance as the group will graduate in July. The trainees are busy in Dubai as most of the trainers start before 5am and there are classes four afternoons a week from 3 to 5pm. There are assignments in Finance, IT, Human Resources, Marketing and Industry issues to be completed. However, with a warm climate and excellent facilities coupled with a great faculty and practical placements the trainees are expected to achieve very high standards at this stage of the course. We had a bit of fun together too, with supper at the Academy one evening and a few stalwarts managing to get to Double Deckers pub to watch the Six Nations rugby on Sunday evening.

The first-years are experiencing some character building cold weather in Kentucky as they started their practical placements this month. Layers of clothes are the order of the day, but the work they are involved in is motivation enough for them to keep up their spirits. Liz and Dean foaled 15 mares during their two-week stint on nights at Gainsborough Farm, which is a record number for Flying Start so far! The Hagyards vets have been ever generous with allowing Junling and Andrew to observe all of their routines and Fabricio was thrilled to spend a week assisting in all aspects of the stallions and covering shed at Jonabell. Brandon and Alex joined Johnny Burke at the Keeneland training centre for a week and then spent a week in the Jonabell office learning about nominations, marketing, accounts and administration. Gina has had a busy two weeks with yearlings on Jonabell and the other four trainees are half way through their four-week stint on mares at Gainsborough Farm. Lectures at this time are largely based on Equine Nutrition and Reproduction and the series of Legal lectures has just begun.

On a sad note, all of the Darley Flying Start trainees and management expressed their sympathy to Jimmy Bell and his family on the passing of John A Bell on January 31st.

 

Clodagh Kavanagh

 

Eden, the farrier. Larger image

 

Dean feeding foal. Larger image

 

The trainees at Turfway Park.
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Jerome puts his farrier training into practice. Larger image