THIS year’s new group of Darley Flying Start trainees arrived at Kildangan Stud on Monday. The 12 trainees represent seven countries and were welcomed by Darley Flying Start and Kildangan Stud management at a lunch in the Kildangan Stud auditorium on their first day.

The first week of the programme has focused on induction training. In addition to a stallion show and tour of the stud they visited Darley’s Ragusa, Old Connell and Blackhall Studs. Trainee Alayna Cullen from Co Kildare is looking forward to hosting her international classmates on this phase of the programme. “‘I’m really excited about showcasing our renowned industry here in Ireland to my fellow trainees. We all come from different disciplines throughout the international thoroughbred industry which is fantastic as we can learn so much from each other.”

Lectures, visits, assignments and practical experience will be part of the 10-week Irish phase of the programme and at the end of October when they will travel to Newmarket. The trainees will attend the Goffs yearling sales and racing at Dundalk, Laytown, the Curragh and Leopardstown. The second year trainees commenced the Australian phase of their programme on August 17th.

This year’s trainees are Conrad Bandoroff (USA), Patricia Bowman (USA), Jackson Buchanon (USA), Alayna Cullen (Ireland), Lauren De Arias Huep (Spain), Brittney Dixon (USA), Mary Ellet (USA), William Freedman (Australia), Yoshitake Hashida (Japan), Hang Yi (Cherry) He (Singapore), Yuemeng (Carrie) Hu (China) and Michael Smith (USA).