Godolphin Flying Start

In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. Second-year trainee Donncha McCarthy discusses the challenges of the shorter Southern Hemisphere covering season. Godolphin Flying Start is an excellent way to learn and experience the Thoroughbred industry worldwide. As we are currently in the Australian phase, I have been looking into some differences between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere breeding schedules, and how the shorter Australian breeding season affects stud farms and stallions. I then offer solutions to the challenges...

In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. Trainee Lachlan Pethica discusses ways the industry can attract new fans. Attracting a new and diverse audience is of paramount importance if racing's popularity is to avoid demise. This remains a topical discussion in the industry and is being acted upon across the world; however, individual participants must collaborate to ensure the ongoing success of the sport. To an 'insider', our industry is often perceived as open and accessible, where passionate...

The 2021 class of Godolphin Flying Star graduated via Zoom on Friday, July 2. The 12 graduates were presented with their diplomas virtually by Godolphin Flying Start graduate and Godolphin Flying Start Trustee Lisa-Jane Graffard. The dozen new graduates are: Lowri Allen (UK), Joseph Bradley (Ireland), Julie Witt (USA), Niamh O'Brien (Ireland), Rachel Wade (USA), Arvin Chadee (UK), Victoria Canessa (Argentina), Marie Rohaut (France), Toshihiro Onikubo (Japan), Emma Coleman (Ireland), Oswald Wedmore (UK) and Caitlin Smith (Australia). Both Lowri Allen and Emma Coleman achieved the joint highest grades among the...

The 2021-2023 class of Godolphin Flying Start was announced on Monday. The two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Programme features eight men and four women from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, the UK and the USA. Trainees will spend time in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia and Dubai, while the course is accredited by University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. The 2021-2023 trainees are: Marcus Bird, UK Shéa Connolly, Ireland Jessica Daw, UK Margaux Herinckx, UK James Keane, Ireland Charles King, New...

The 2020-2022 Godolphin Flying Start trainees were tasked to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with proposals for a new look U.S. Graded Stakes Program for 3-year-olds. These four round table discussions were published in TDN on May 15, 17, 19, and 21. The trainees were given the opportunity to respond to the feedback/questions they received from TDN readers. 3-Year-Old Turf Races - Angus Robertson, Brigitte Murphy, Tom Murphy (Click here) Feedback: As you talked about maiden races running on the turf at Belmont for $90,000, I wonder...

The 2020-2022 Godolphin Flying Start trainees have been tasked to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with proposals for a new look U.S. Graded Stakes Program for 3-year-olds. These round table discussions have been published in TDN on May 15, 17, and 19. Click here for video. In the final installment we have the American trio of Samantha Bussanich, Devon Dougherty and Erin McLaughlin who will be providing an overall perspective. Please send feedback and suggestions to the trainees via Kate Hardy at khardy@godolphinflyingstart.com. All feedback will be...

The 2020-2022 Godolphin Flying Start trainees have been tasked to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with proposals for a new look U.S. Graded Stakes Program for 3-year-olds. Today we have Ireland's Tom Murphy, Ireland's Brigitte Murphy and Australia's Angus Robertson who will be focusing on 3-year-old turf races. Click here to watch. The last remaining round table discussion will be published in TDN May 21. Please send feedback and suggestions to the trainees via Kate Hardy at khardy@godolphinflyingstart.com. All feedback will be correlated and responded to by...

The 2020-2022 Godolphin Flying Start trainees have been tasked to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with proposals for a new look U.S. Graded Stakes Program for 3-year-olds. These four round table discussions will be published in TDN on May 15, 17, 19, and 21. Today, we have France's Solene Hudbert, Ireland's Donncha McCarthy and Ireland's David Skelly who will be focusing on 3-year-old fillies. Please send feedback and suggestions to the trainees via Kate Hardy at khardy@godolphinflyingstart.com. All feedback will be correlated and responded to by the...

by Clodagh Kavanagh The 2020-2022 Godolphin Flying Start trainees have been tasked to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with proposals for a new look U.S. Graded Stakes Program for 3-year-olds. These four round table discussions will be published in TDN on May 15, 17, 19, and 21. First up we have England's George Broughton, England's Tommy Lyon-Smith and France's Marine Moussa who will be focusing on 3-year-old colts. Click here for Part One.  Please send feedback and suggestions to the trainees via Kate Hardy at khardy@godolphinflyingstart.com. All...

Godolphin Flying Start graduate Philip Antonacci won his first race as a trainer Saturday when Advanced Strategy (Karakontie {Jpn}) took an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. Antonacci said he's only officially been training on his own since January, but grew up spending summers in the barn with his brother, Frank, a trainer for their family's prominent Standardbred operation. "We're very excited about [the first win]," said Antonacci. "It was good for the whole team, a morale boost. We've only had four starters, so we've got a good percentage going right...

In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. Second-year trainee Arvin Chadee looks at opportunities for transparency at the sales. As consumers, the way we make important purchases-like investing in the share market, buying real estate or even booking a holiday--has evolved considerably over the last 20 years thanks to the internet, technology and social media. Yet, the process of purchasing a Thoroughbred has evolved only marginally. Those evolutions have included the introduction of online bidding and purely online...

Applications for the 2021 - 2023 Godolphin Flying Start class are currently open and close on Feb. 8. The online portal for application has this year been opened a month early to allow applicants more time to complete their applications in a process that is more streamlined than ever before. David Skelly, a first-year trainee on Godolphin Flying Start, said, "I cannot recommend the course to any aspiring industry leader highly enough. The opportunities and experiences it offers are unparalleled in the Thoroughbred industry worldwide." Caitlin Smith, a second-year trainee...