THE Godolphin Flying Start class of 2021-’23 have been back in Ireland for two months now, returning from where it all began in August 2021 when we commenced our programme.

In the lead up it was hard to comprehend the opportunity we had been provided with. Our expectations have been truly exceeded thanks to the many people that have gone out of their way to share their knowledge and been so accommodating with us.

Coming from New Zealand, it is no wonder I’ve found our time in Ireland such a pleasure; the similarities are striking. The people share the same laid-back attitude, everyone has time for everyone, and even the most successful people in their fields present themselves with an air of humility despite their achievements and expertise.

Regarding the thoroughbred industry, the parallels between Ireland and New Zealand continue. Trade is a major factor of both industries and a reality for many thoroughbred businesses.

A leading figure in bloodstock noted that the state of prize money drives the need for trade but doesn’t reflect the high quality of the industry; something New Zealanders can relate to.

Ireland’s thoroughbred industry is steeped in heritage and the people are proud of what they produce, the horse is the focus at every step to produce competitive horses throughout their racing careers.

Irish hospitality

During our visits to leading training stables and stud farms we’ve been constantly blown away by the principals’ willingness to share their insights with us.

It was a privilege to visit Ballydoyle, a state-of-the-art training facility which has produced some of the best racehorses in the world. With the calm and calculated demeanour of Aidan O’Brien at the helm, it is a place where any horse and horseman alike would consider themselves lucky to find themselves.

With the association to Godolphin, it was a pleasure to meet Jim Bolger, trainer of multiple classic and Group 1 winners, including recent stars Teofilo, New Approach and Poetic Flare. His unique breeding technique using inbreeding has resulted in exceptional horses, something only few attempt.

We’ve learned the benefit of raising horses on the Irish landscapes of Kildare and Tipperary; visiting Gilltown Stud hosted by Pat Downes was the perfect opportunity to gain insights into the world-famous bloodlines that have spanned over a century, a legacy continued by His Highness the Aga Khan.

A visit to Gilltown Stud wouldn’t be complete without meeting champion sire Sea The Stars; he was happy to bask in the fine, albeit rare, afternoon sun. The trip to Gilltown Stud was a long time in the making. As a 13-year-old I didn’t quite grasp the significance when Azamour, the Aga Khan Studs’ first shuttle stallion to New Zealand, arrived at our family stud, Brighthill Farm.

Our visits have been a stark reminder that while other professions digress from the human factor, when it comes to producing racehorses there is no substitute for great horsemanship.

Academic projects

On the academic side of things, we’ve completed our Diploma in PR and Marketing Communications with UCD Professional Academy. We learned valuable lessons culminating in an assessment requiring us to form a marketing campaign for a business which included setting objectives, budgeting and assessing the effectiveness of the campaign.

The learnings from this have been incredibly useful when completing our business plan.

The business plan is the flagship assignment completed throughout the two years of Godolphin Flying Start. We were tasked with creating a sustainable business that solves an issue within a chosen racing jurisdiction.

A major component of this is the customer discovery phone calls with industry leaders and professionals around the world. The entire class found these phone calls extremely informative and we’re very appreciative of the time given to us by our interviewees.

After fine-tuning our solutions and forecasting three years of finances we all feel a sense of satisfaction having handed-in our 40-page brochures, an effort which wouldn’t be possible without the guidance provided by Rohan and Raomal Perera of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Externships

The next step for the class is commencing our final externships. We’ll be dispersing to major stud farms, trainers and organisations in Britain, Ireland and France; we’re all very excited at the opportunity provided to us by our hosts. This is the final step before graduation before heading full-time into the industry we’re all extremely passionate about.

We’re aware of the issues that our industry faces all around the world, this scholarship has equipped us with the tools to be involved with the changes that can be made for the future of breeding and racing, a responsibility and prospect we’re all very much looking forward to.

Finally, it would be un-Kiwi of me to not boast the achievements of New Zealand bred horses winning seven out of the eight Group 1s during The Championships in Australia a few weeks ago, a testament to the benefits of fantastic natural resources, horsemanship and pedigrees selectively crafted over decades.

I’m confident that of everyone the Irish can appreciate a nation punching above their weight to produce world class racehorses competing at the highest level.

See godolphinflyingstart.com for more information on the programme