'It was magical to see the power of the thoroughbred casting its spell'

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Here, Aisling Crowe attends a careers event at Kildangan Stud and witnesses the power thoroughbreds have to generate passion – subscribers can get more great insight every Monday to Friday.

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While all the talk at the moment is of sales, extraordinary prices and scarcely believable sale ring duels, some initiatives can slip under the radar at this time of year. One particularly important innovation took place last weekend in Kildare and it deserves highlighting.

On Sunday morning Godolphin Ireland held a careers event at Kildangan Stud which was aimed at both people already in the industry thinking of changing direction and looking for inspiration, and those who are considering a career in racing and breeding.

It was a free event that also included a mini-stallion parade and entry to the races at Naas afterwards. Advertised on Instagram, it immediately attracted my attention as a member of my family is at that age where careers, further study and that terrifying question, 'So what do you want to do with the rest of your life?' is one that pops out of the mouth of every second adult with regularity.

Working with animals in some capacity is high on their list of potential careers, and, allied to their love of horses, it seemed like the perfect event for them. 

Having made the necessary arrangements for cross-country travel, everything went smoothly and having been allowed to indulge my inner nerd and relate a brief history of Kildangan, Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed over breakfast, we set off.

The event was hosted by Ciara Devitt, who is manager of Godolphin Ireland's Education Initiatives, with a contribution from Joe Osborne and a panel discussion, moderated by Sarah Lynam. All four panellists represented a broad cross-section of the careers offered in the thoroughbred industry, with a variety of background and routes into it, and their current roles.

Eoin Walsh (winning at Navan earlier this year) had a bold approach to getting his job with Noel MeadeCredit: Patrick McCann

The panel of Kim Kearns, administrator of Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital, Sylvia O'Donnell from BBA Ireland's transport division, jockey Eoin Walsh, who also works part time for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), and Conor Wixted, senior bloodstock executive at Goffs, was selected for those very reasons and each, in their own way, illuminated the diversity of opportunities.

Walsh's recounting of how he landed his job with Noel Meade was essential listening and memorable, but all four panellists and Lynam made important observations that were not lost on their audience.

There were a few treats lined up too: Osborne and some Flying Start trainees paraded a selection of yearling fillies, including a three-parts sister to Victor Ludorum who everyone agreed was a beauty. The nuggets of information lightly interspersed in the discussions were soaked up like especially absorbent sponges.

Then there was a career showcase with the opportunity to speak with representatives of some of the leading industry bodies, including Hannah Marks of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Anne Channon from the Irish National Stud's Thoroughbred Breeding Course. 

What was particularly interesting, and of most relevance for my relative, was the information provided by Marks on the apprenticeship scheme and the opportunities it affords Transition Year students.

Equuip, the careers, education, training and people welfare department of HRI, Godolphin's own educational and careers initiatives, and both Treo Eile and Godolphin Aftercare were represented too.

A lovely touch was the opportunity to meet the retired Doyen, who was regally receiving tributes of affection from adoring youngsters born a decade and more after his illustrious racing career but who were thrilled by the gentle nature of this beautiful stallion.

It was magical to see the power of the thoroughbred casting its spell.

Doyen: Darley's retired stallion stole the show at Kildangan Credit: Patrick McCann

Then there was a parade of three Darley sires: Earthlight, Space Blues and Night Of Thunder. Again, the Flying Start trainees were involved and afterwards it was fascinating listening to my young relative give their opinion on the stallions and which one was the standout.

Doyen, in case anyone is interested! Although Night Of Thunder ran him a close second.

When I was in secondary school, I was unaware of 95 per cent of the careers spoken about last weekend, and didn't even realise writing about bloodstock was a possibility. As I wrote recently, I was a sports journalist with a passion for horses and racing who discovered bloodstock as an adjunct to racing, and developed a fascination with pedigrees.

My young relative has a greater knowledge and understanding of the potential roles available now, and is enthusiastic about a future they were unaware was open to them just 24 hours previously.

Often we are guilty of much navel-gazing and hand-wringing about all the ills and problems which beset us, but the team at Godolphin Ireland deserve enormous praise for being proactive in their efforts to make the industry more accessible to a broader range of people with diverse backgrounds and interests.

Sunday was the third such careers event hosted by Godolphin Ireland and it was pleasing to learn that it was the best attended to date. It can only be hoped that Godolphin will continue to run these information events, and that it is a template the industry as a whole can adapt and become involved with.

There is much written and said about how to attract young people into racing, and student days, music nights, food festivals and a whole host of other ideas are deployed in an attempt to catch the ever-diminishing attention span of young people.

Listed winner Azada will be an unforgettable horse for our writer's young relativeCredit: Patrick McCann

At both Kildangan and Naas last Sunday, there were no gimmicks, just horses and racing showcased in their purest form by people who are passionate and knowledgeable about their sport and careers, who care about what they do, and it was proof, if ever it was needed, that there is no substitute for authenticity.

My teenage relative had never attended a race meeting before last Sunday. They left Naas that evening as a new fan of the sport, excited about the next time they can go racing and talking about bringing other members of the family along.

Horses did that. 

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Must-read story

“It’s quite moving actually, especially because he hasn’t got any more coming. He’s a nice colt and I’ll bet you anything he wins!” said Marcus Tregoning after netting the very last yearling by retired Lanwades stallion Sir Percy at Tattersalls Book 2.

Pedigree pick

Talking of Lanwades, one of my favourite young stallions is Study Of Man and it is a filly from his second crop who stands out on pedigree at Nottingham this afternoon (2.45).

Revoir is a homebred of Julian Richmond-Watson and is a half-sister to last year's Fred Darling winner Remarquee, who was second in the Coronation and Falmouth Stakes. 

Their dam, Regardez, is a Listed winner and a Champs Elysees sister to Listed winner Glance, by Dansili, and a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Scope.

Second dam Look So is a winning Efisio half-sister to Oaks winner and St Leger third Look Here.

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