Course News - May and June 2008

Having completed a Steward Accreditation module and an Equine Nutrition module through University of Arizona and University of Kentucky respectively in May, June is work placement time for the first year Darley Flying Start trainees. They have a choice of completing their 6 week placement in the USA or Japan. This year Mick Flanagan and Kyle Wilson have taken the opportunity to visit the Orient and will spend time working at Darley, Bando and Paca Paca Farms in Hokkaido. They have been racing in Tokyo and visited the training centres at Miho and BTC as well as the massive Shadai Farm.

Perth veterinarian Jason Walsh is assisting racetrack vet Jeff Blea on the Californian racing circuit. Melbourne born Liam Howley is learning the ropes of training in California with Eoin Harty. They are joined by James McHale who is based with trainer, Doug O’Neill. Andrew Williams from Cambridge, New Zealand is completing his six weeks with the Keeneland bloodstock team. He will spend much of his time assisting in evaluating yearlings for the upcoming September sales, and assisting with pedigree updates and cataloguing. He is joined at Keeneland by Darren Fox from Ireland. The other first year trainees are placed with the TDN, Pin Oak Farm, Westpoint Thoroughbreds, Todd Pletcher and Arlington racetrack.

The second year trainees had their four week European work placement in May. Andrew Birch from New Zealand completed his with the Tattersalls bloodstock team in Newmarket and Eden Harrington from Sydney spent four weeks with bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud. Other trainees were placed with Darley, Racing Post, Mark Johnston, Sir Michael Stoute, John Oxx and Horse Racing Ireland. They are all now based at Kildangan Stud in Ireland where they are on the final six weeks of the course. This is a vital few weeks where they complete their Business Planning and Entrepreneurship module through University College Dublin graduate school and visit Irish entrepreneurs in the thoroughbred industry.

Visits planned include Con Marnane, Michael Halford, Jim Bolger, Kildaragh Stud and Ballyhimikin Stud. All of their learning experiences and personal development over the past two years is used to produce their final assignment which is a business plan. Each trainee selects a particular business plan that they research, write and present to an expert panel in the final days of the programme. Accuracy, format, innovation and a confident presentation are rewarded with high grades in this final project.

As one group prepare to wrap up and move into the working world, twelve newly selected trainees prepare to make the journey to Kildare in August to begin the Darley Flying Start journey. Included are Australian representatives Meagan Jamieson from Victoria and Brian McGrath who is currently completing the Irish National Stud course.

 

Clodagh Kavanagh