AS we approach 2024 with more speed than Think About It in The Everest, the Spring Racing Carnival that we have been lucky enough to experience in Australia is coming to an end. This conclusion is echoed with the breeding season, as it draws to a close and breeders prepare for the upcoming yearling sales.

The Northerly Stakes, one of the last Group 1 races of the year, was recently run in Western Australia. Zaaki, the poster boy for European imports to Australia, was narrowly defeated by Dom to Shoot, who gave his trainer and jockey their first Group 1 win as well as earning nearly A$1 million in prize money for his efforts.

Prize money in Australia has never been better, and next year there will be 95 races worth $1 million or greater, which is the equivalent of a million dollar race every 3.8 days. But earning this is no easy feat, and by offering such high winnings it creates an incredibly competitive culture in which the cream really does rise to the top.

Globalisation

As we progress through Godolphin Flying Start, we have been lucky enough to visit Ireland, the UK, America and now Australia. With all this travel, the globalisation of the bloodstock industry becomes increasingly apparent.

As trainees, we witnessed In Italian win the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes in Keeneland. A chestnut mare by Dubawi and out of an Australian mare Florentina, she made her way across the pond after being sold at the 2019 Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale.

We also watched the unmissable Royal Ascot from afar, where Warm Heart triumphed in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes. She is by the great Galileo and out of another Australian mare in Sea Siren.

Warm Heart’s half-brother by Camelot will head to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January, where he will be offered as part of Coolmore’s draft.

A prevalent theme down under is the commerciality of the industry, with an outstanding 65% of Australian-bred Group 1 winners having been sold as yearlings. This consistently gives buyers great access to incredible bloodlines, with virtually all breeders in Australia selling their stock.

In line with this, an incredible opportunity will arise in 2024 with Winx’s first produce, a filly by champion Pierro, being offered as part of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

However, it is not just four-legged individuals who are travelling across different jurisdictions and creating influence, as two-legged beings are not too far behind them.

Last year, we witnessed Yulong Investments purchase Alcohol Free for $10.6 million (5.4 million guineas), and she is currently in training with the prolific Gai Waterhouse and Godolphin Flying Start graduate Adrian Bott in Australia.

After last seeing the mare parade under the bright lights of Tattersalls sales ring as part of the inaugural Sceptre Session, it was surreal seeing her trot past us under the floodlights of Randwick racecourse in the early hours of the morning, when a few of us were lucky enough to ride out for Gai and Adrian.

I’d like to thank Gai and Adrian for allowing us the opportunity to experience trackwork in Sydney.

Time for thanks

As a cohort, we are nearing the end of our externships, where I have been fortunate enough to gain experience with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse.

I’d love to thank the team there for their patience and knowledge shared with me over the past few weeks. I’ve had the opportunity to gain an insight into how a publication like the Investor’s Guide is prepared, which was recently released. It showcases the Australian thoroughbred industry and is well worth a read.

We depart for our Christmas break shortly before heading to the Gold Coast for the first southern hemisphere yearling sale of the year, after which we will begin our journey back to Kildangan, stopping off to witness the amazing spectacle that is Dubai in between.

With our upcoming graduation, applications are now being accepted for the 2024-’26 intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees.

The past 18 months have been an unforgettable experience, during which we met some incredible people who have been generous with their time and experiences shared. I’d like to thank HH Sheikh Mohammed for this opportunity and the Godolphin Australia team we have spent time with. I cannot recommend the programme enough and urge anyone who is thinking about applying to reach out to any of the current trainees or management for more information.

I can assure you if I could apply again, I would.

See godolphinflyingstart.com for more information on the programme