THE fourth Godolphin Flying Start Alumni Conference will take place in Ireland in 2020, on dates to be announced. However, the course’s general manager Clodagh Kavanagh was able to say it would be held between Royal Ascot and the Irish Derby, ensuring that travellers to the event would be able to fit in some world-class racing.

The dozen students who graduated at a ceremony last Friday in the Cape Cross Centre at Kildangan Stud bring to 175 the total number of people who have completed the course successfully. The graduates were presented with their diplomas by Godolphin UK managing director and Godolphin Flying Start trustee Hugh Anderson, with four students achieving a distinction. The top trainee was named as Katelyn Butler from Victoria, Australia, while Chloe Pitts from Suffolk in England achieved first class honours from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. The Flying Start programme is accredited by UCD.

Almost 100 people gathered for the ceremony, held before the families of many of the graduates. Guests included industry leaders such as Coolmore Stud’s Christy Grassick, trainers Jim Bolger and Michael Halford, John Osborne and Suzanne Eade from Horse Racing Ireland, Sarah McNicholas from the Irish Equine Centre, stud owner Dermot Cantillon, and former course graduates Michael Buckley and Jack Davison.

Graduates of the course spend two years travelling the globe and working in a huge variety of different sectors. Dual 2019 Group 1-winning trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale, Newgate Stud managing director Henry Field are just a few of the graduates from the Sheikh Mohammed-inspired programme. So too is Thoroughbred Daily News marketing manager and 2017 graduate Alayna Cullen who acted as master of ceremonies. She welcomed guests and trainees’ families from as far away as the USA and Australia.

Clodagh Kavanagh paid tribute to Sheikh Mohammed for his vision and support of Godolphin Flying Start, while complimenting her team of coordinators who work to implement Flying Start in Ireland, Britain, the USA, Australia and Dubai. She spoke about the value of the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School accreditation of the programme, and said the most critical indicator of quality for Godolphin Flying Start is the performance of the graduates across the world, the nature of the impact they make on the organisations they work for and the businesses they create.

Godolphin Ireland managing director Joe Osborne annually delivers a short but to the point address to the graduating class. Using the various varieties of trees that we are familiar with to describe the many types of people the class could be, he emphasised the importance of solidarity and integrity in their futures. Like the oak tree, he said that their motto should be to stand sure and strong.

Graduates William McNeile and Amy Buckley concluded the ceremony by extending thanks to the guests, Godolphin Flying Start management and Sheikh Mohammed. They also made presentations to Clodagh Kavanagh, Joe Osborne and course co-ordinator Martin Larkin. Guests and graduates later enjoyed a celebration lunch in the walled garden at Kildangan.