TWO students at the Irish National Stud are among the latest batch of trainees selected for the Godolphin Flying Start programme.

The two-year Godolphin course sees 12 trainees gain invaluable industry experience in Ireland, England, Dubai, Australia and America.

Lucy Blake from Portlaoise and Kildare’s John Bourke are the only Irish people to win places on the 2018-’20 programme. Both are due to graduate from the Irish National Stud’s thoroughbred breeding course next month.

The incoming Godolphin class comprises five males and seven females. Five nationalities are represented and they will commence their training at Kildangan Stud on August 13th.

The thoroughbred industry management and leadership programme is accredited by the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School.

Half of Godolphin Flying Start graduates are managers or CEO’s and they are based across the five continents working in media, racing, breeding, bloodstock, sales, consultancy, veterinary and marketing.

These include Arqana auctioneer Ludovic Cornuel, Newmarket bloodstock agent Matt Coleman, Glen Hill Farm manager Lindsay Shultz, Highclere Australia racing manager Dane Robinson and recent Irish Godolphin Stud Stable Staff Leadership Award winner Stephen Thorne, who is assistant trainer to Adrian McGuinness.

2018-2020 TRAINEES

  • Nicholas Archdale (UK)
  • Lucy Blake (Ireland)
  • Corbin Blumberg (USA)
  • John Bourke (Ireland)
  • Samantha Cripps (USA)
  • Luke Evans (UK)
  • Liza Hendriks (USA)
  • Amélie Lemercier (France)
  • Annise Montplaisir (USA)
  • Niall O’Connor (UK)
  • Isabella Paul (UK)
  • Anna Power (Australia)