IN Ireland, September normally feels like the beginning of autumn. In the Hunter Valley, it means spring, the start of the covering season and suddenly a lot of mares waiting to be scanned.

Nothing made that clearer than spending one Monday helping the veterinary surgeon examine 49 mares at Sledmere Stud.

I arrived in Sydney in the middle of August to begin the Australian phase of Godolphin Flying Start. After finishing the American phase, I spent the summer travelling through Canada, Mexico and Central America, followed by a short visit home to Ireland.

It was then time to swap my backpack for yard boots again and travel to our base at Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley.

The weather took some getting used to. Mornings can be cold enough for several layers, yet by afternoon you are ready for shorts.

The scale of the farms is also striking. Horses spend far more time outside, feed is delivered from trucks, and staff can lead horses while driving buggies. It is very different from systems I’ve experienced in Ireland, England, France and America.

Stallion parades

Our arrival coincided with the Hunter Valley stallion parades. Over one weekend, we visited Coolmore, Vinery, Arrowfield, Newgate, Yarraman Park and Godolphin, and saw more than 50 stallions.

Seeing I Am Invincible looking so well at 22 was a highlight, while the weekend showed us how competitive and commercial the Australian market is.

We also met people across the industry. John Messara spoke about the principles that have guided his career: integrity, long-term thinking and attention to detail.

Bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell was honest about the time it took to make his business profitable, while trainer Jack Bruce explained that many of his current owners are people he met earlier in his career. Their experiences reinforced how important relationships are in our industry.

The most practical part of the month was my two-week rotation at Sledmere, which covers nearly 1,000 acres and is home to over 100 mares.

The timing was ideal because the covering season was beginning. I spent plenty of time holding mares in the crush during reproductive examinations, which gave me the perfect opportunity to ask the vet questions. I also practised administering injections and helped with daily treatments.

During my second week, three mares foaled. One was a straightforward delivery from a maiden mare, while another produced an enormous 70kg foal by Pride of Dubai. Through assessing the foals’ conformation, I also learned more about corrective farriery.

One of my favourite afternoons involved looking at approximately 90 yearlings with Royston Murphy. We discussed their physicals, pedigrees and which sale might suit each horse.

One client owned several yearlings by the same sires, so the draft had to be carefully divided between different sales.

It showed me that sale selection is not about choosing the biggest auction, but finding the place where each horse has the best opportunity to stand out.

Our latest week brought a change of scene, when we travelled to Sydney for our leadership module with Denise Weinreis at the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Values

We reflected on our values, strengths and leadership styles, while each group also organised and led an activity. My group planned a competitive treasure hunt around Sydney. It was great fun and tested our organisation and teamwork.

Away from the course, we have attended racing at Randwick, visited the Sydney Opera House and spent a day in the Blue Mountains. These were welcome opportunities to experience another side of Australia beyond the farms.

My first month has already included newborn foals, stallion parades, sales pitches and leadership challenges. The biggest lesson has been to remain open minded; as John Sunderland told us “It’s not wrong, it’s just different” - a useful mindset when learning in a new country.

I am grateful to the Godolphin Flying Start management team and to Kate Lindsay, our Australian coordinator for making our transition to Australia so enjoyable.

There’s plenty still to come. I am now looking forward to our second practical rotation, attending Epsom Day and The Everest at Randwick, experiencing the Inglis Ready to Race Sale and travelling to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival.

See godolphinflyingstart.com for more information on the programme.