Drakenstein Stud’s Kevin Sommerville has called on the South African horseracing industry to find means of identifying prospective candidates for the internationally recognised Darley Flying Start programme.
Drakenstein’s Racing Manager Kevin Sommerville
Sommerville and his colleague James Trotter, both in the employ of Drakenstein Stud, are the only two South Africans to have completed the two year programme and both attribute their progress and industry career opportunities to the kick start of the Darley programme.
“I realise that South Africa is a little out of the loop as it were in terms of the countries visited by the students, but that should not prevent us as an industry from identifying suitable candidates. One thinks here of the School of Equine Management Excellence at Summerhill as a good starting point. I owe so much to the foundation, experience and knowledge gained on the programme. It also builds valuable associations and relationships and as alumni we stay in touch and share news and ideas,” said Kevin Sommerville.
His call follows the announcement of the latest intake of scholarship recipients for the two year programme.
The group for 2016 – 2018 is comprised of 12 individuals from six different countries.
Drakenstein’s Financial Manager James Trotter
This outstanding scholarship is provided to trainees to learn and experience management operations and leadership in the global Thoroughbred industry.
The course includes accreditation from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. Graduates of Darley Flying Start are running their own enterprises or working for Thoroughbred industry leaders throughout Europe, in the USA, Canada, South America, Asia, South Africa, New Zealand, Middle East and Australia. Career areas include media, racing, breeding, bloodstock, sales, consultancy, veterinary, racetrack management and marketing.
In August 2016 Darley Flying Start will change its name to Godolphin Flying Start. The existing course structure, content and management will remain the same. Course Manager Clodagh Kavanagh says “I am delighted to announce the 2016 scholarship recipients. I look forward to launching our new name and logo in August following the graduation of the current second year trainees and before the 2016 trainees commence”.
The 2016 – 2018 trainees are:
- Jessica Berry (USA)
- Joe Callan (Ireland)
- Jack Carlino (USA)
- Tim Donworth (Ireland)
- Christopher Farrell (Ireland)
- Megan Hebbert (UK)
- Amie Karlsson (Sweden)
- Luke Morgan (Ireland)
- Todd Pollard (New Zealand)
- Laura Pouri-Robertson (New Zealand)
- Madison Scott (USA)
- Renshuai YI (China)
The 12 will commence their training at Kildangan Stud in Ireland on 15 August 2016.
To learn more about Darley Flying Start visit www.darleyflyingstart.com or contact Clodagh Kavanagh at [email protected] or Martin Larkin at [email protected]
