Edmond is in second year of the Godolphin Flying Start programme. He has some concerns about the current sales market and training expenses.

How did you get interested and involved in bloodstock and sales?

Growing up on our family farm, Weir View Stud, I was looking at young stock for as long as I remember, with my father, who is heavily involved in pinhooking.

I always loved show jumping growing up and was still competing up to a couple of years ago. While I always loved working with the sale horses back home, I really started to focus on it in transition year of school when I worked my first couple of yearling sales. I began working part-time for Camas Park which I did for several years during my school and college holidays, doing as many sales as I could. After college, I decided to focus on the thoroughbred industry, so I went to David Redvers’ Tweenhills Farm in England for several months before commencing the Irish National Stud course.

After the course, I spent some time at Tally-Ho Stud before starting the Godolphin Flying Start programme.

Who helped you along the way or gave you advice?

I have been lucky enough to have some great mentors over the last couple of years, the most important though have been my parents who have been unbelievable support to me. My dad has always encouraged me to find my own way and has been great to bounce ideas off about different aspects of the industry I’m interested in.

David Redvers was also a great mentor to me and gave me plenty of responsibility during my time there. I was fortunate enough to shadow him and the rest of the Qatar buying team during Book 2 which was a great education. Cathal Beale was a brilliant source of advice and guidance during my time on the course and afterwards. I was only in Tally-Ho Stud for a short period, but what I learned from Roger O’Callaghan will be invaluable going forward.

What challenges/problems have you faced so far?

I have been fortunate enough not to encounter too many problems to date in my career, although some situations can be difficult to navigate. I find that the sales market has changed in recent years as, currently, the lower market has almost disappeared completely with the middle market continuing to struggle. With training expenses being so high at the moment, I believe people are more reluctant to have horses in training. Hopefully, as syndicates continue to grow, we might be able to replicate a market like the one in Australia.

What advice would you give to somebody else who wanted to get involved in the industry professionally?

This is a unique industry where everyone likes seeing the younger generation coming through and wants to see them succeed. Somebody who wants to get involved should get in contact with people they admire in the industry, and I am sure that they would be more than happy to give a helping hand. People also tend to forget how many different opportunities there are in this industry. It’s not just racing yards and stud farms but there are other roles such as stallion nominations, sales companies, racecourse management and bloodstock agents, just to name a few.

What are your hopes for the next 12 months?

I am fortunate to be in my second year of the Godolphin Flying Start programme, which has been an incredible experience to-date and I have no doubt it will be the same for the coming 12 months. Upon completion of the course, I hope to go down the stud route, focusing on sales consignment and breeding.