Podcast

About the Podcast

Welcome to the ‘Leading to Success’ podcast, a podcast created and run by Godolphin Flying Start trainees.  Hear about the first-hand experiences from the trainees themselves, who will provide insight to the course, their experiences, and careers in store for graduates.

Listen to our latest episode

The fifth episode of season three features your hosts, Sam Baker and Claire Wilson, who are currently a month into their USA phase of the course. The first-year trainees began the phase on 2nd January and have been busy since with many farm visits, meetings, workshops and their University of Kentucky Nutrition module. The guest for this episode is none other than County Offaly-native Tony Lacy, Vice President of Sales at Keeneland. Tony goes into great depth about his background, the success and running of Keeneland sales, looks ahead to the future of Keeneland, and offers some advice to our listeners.

Season 3

Welcome to Season 3 of the Godolphin Flying Start Podcast, “Leading to Success”! In this episode, your hosts Gerard Donworth and Anna Cahill catch up with first-year trainee Harrison Everett. They discuss his experience on the course to date. Martina Dempsey, the Irish coordinator of Godolphin Flying Start, also joins us to talk about her role and her participation in the charity race sequence the Corinthian Challenge. Tune in every month for more exciting episodes and insights from a variety of guests.


In this episode, your hosts Gerard Donworth and Anna Cahill catch up with first-year trainee Harrison Everett. They discuss his experience on the course to date. Martina Dempsey, the Irish coordinator of Godolphin Flying Start, also joins us to talk about her role and her participation in the charity race sequence the Corinthian Challenge. Tune in every month for more exciting episodes and insights from a variety of guests.


The third episode of season three featured hosts Jake Swinburn and Sean Cooper, who are currently completing the UK phase of the programme. Guests included 2020 Godolphin Flying Start graduate Issy Paul, who speaks about her career to date since graduating and her experience on the programme, along with the steps she took to best position herself to apply in 2018. The team leaders were also joined by Freddie McKibbin, Tattersalls Bloodstock Executive, who speaks about his role at Park Paddocks and his path to becoming a bloodstock auctioneer.

The fourth episode of season three features your hosts, Jake Swinburn and Sean Cooper, who are currently completing the UK phase of the programme. Guests for this episode include 2014 Godolphin Flying Start graduate and GITLP trustee Tessa Hetherington, who speaks about her career to date since graduating and her experiences on the programme, and she offers some key advice to those thinking of applying in 2024. The team leaders are also joined by USA trainee Harper McVey. She speaks about her experiences on the programme to date and what she is looking forward to back in the USA, where the trainees travel next.

 

Season 2

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Godolphin Flying Start Podcast,” Leading to Success”. This first episode back features our hosts, David O’Farrell and Sarah Kelly who have recently commenced their first phase of Godolphin Flying Start in Ireland. Guests include two of the new first year cohort of Godolphin Flying Start, Orlaith Nangle and Ben Triandafillou, who will share their experience of the course so far. Martin Larkin, the Management Assistant of Godolphin Flying Start, discusses his role and the technology involved with the programme. Join us on the third Friday of every month to hear some more great guests and how the class of 2022-2024 are getting on, on their flying start journey.

In this month’s episode, the focus is on the upcoming Melbourne Cup. Our two hosts, David O’Farrell and Sarah Kelly, have a chat with Mark Bird and his role as the Irish Flat Handicapper. They are also joined by fellow first-year Godolphin Flying Start trainee Annie O’Rourke, who shares her experience of the course so far and her thoughts on the Melbourne Cup. Sarah and David also catch up with two of the second-year trainees, Lachlan Pethica and Charlie King, and check in on how they are getting on in Australia so far.

Welcome to the third episode of season 2 of the Godolphin Flying Start Podcast, Leading to Success. Your new hosts and UK team leaders, Annie O’Rourke and Jamie Smith, are first-year trainees who have recently touched down in Newmarket, the home of British racing. With the recent Breeders Cup meeting in Keeneland, our first guest is Sean Quinn, assistant trainer to John Quinn, discussing the mighty mare Highfield Princess and exciting future plans for the flying filly. Next up, fellow first-year trainees Alex Sausville (USA) and Annabel Adams (New Zealand) talk about their time on the course and ask some quickfire questions about themselves. Applications for the 2023 – 2025 programme open on December 1st. Visit our website for further information.

Welcome to the fourth episode of season 2 of the Godolphin Flying Start Podcast, Leading to Success. Your hosts and UK team leaders, Annie O’Rourke and Jamie Smith, who are coming to the end of the UK phase in Newmarket. In this episode we caught up with Tattersalls Auctioneer Ollie Fowlston about the recent December sales, as well as Joe Bradley, graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start and Head of Bloodstock Operations at the National Stud. We also caught up with current trainee, Megan O’Leary and Martina Dempsey, Godolphin Flying Start Ireland Coordinator, on the application process for the 2023 intake. Applications for the 2023 – 2025 programme are now open. Visit our website for further information.

It’s a new year and a brand-new phase for the Godolphin Flying Start trainees as we kick off the 2023 Leading To Success Podcast season here in Lexington, Kentucky. Led by team leaders Megan O’Leary and Alex Sausville, this month’s episode kicks off with Executive Director of Godolphin Flying Start, Clodagh Kavanagh, who joins the show to discuss the upcoming application deadline (Feb. 6th) as well as a look at twenty years of Flying Start with the highly anticipated anniversary conference on the horizon. We also check-in with current first year trainee Susannah Jeffery as she commences her first experience in the US. While GFS graduate Gerry Duffy joins the show to discuss his experiences with the course as well as how the Godolphin operation welcomes the GFS trainees to the US Phase.

Welcome to the seventh episode of season 2 of the Godolphin Flying Start Podcast, Leading to Success. Your hosts for this month’s episode are first-year trainees Liam Cunningham (NZ) and Susannah Jeffery (UK). In this episode, we caught up with the Executive Director of the Californian Horse Racing Board Scott Chaney, who recently facilitated part of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) which the trainees completed. From Dubai, our second-year team leaders Vinzenz Schiergen and Henry Morshead give an update on their Study Tour and look forward to the final phase of the programme back in Ireland. Finally, first-year trainee Edmond Ryan lets us know what they have been up to in the first couple of weeks in the USA.

 

 

Season 1

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Leading to Success podcast, a podcast created and run by Godolphin Flying Start trainees. Listen in to learn about the Godolphin Flying Start program from trainees, hear about their experiences on the course, and careers in store for graduates. Clodagh Kavanagh, Godolphin Flying Start Executive Director join trainees Marcus Bird and Vinzenz Schiergen.

This episode features our host Marcus Bird, who is joined by fellow trainee Chris Moore, as well as two program graduates Matt Prior and Joe Callan.

This episode features our host Chris Moore, who is joined by fellow trainee Margaux Herinckx and the new Ireland coordinator, Martina Dempsey. This episode concludes with two program graduates, Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh, who together operate WH Bloodstock.

This episode features our host Marcus Bird, who is joined by fellow trainee Elinor Wolf and the USA Coordinator and Godolphin Flying Start graduate Hallie Hardy. This episode concludes with  graduate Samantha Cripps. Applications for the 2022 – 2024 programme close on February 7th.

This episode features our host Elinor Wolf, who is joined by fellow trainee Marcus Bird and Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey. This episode concludes with  graduate Dan Blacker.

This episode featured the host, Elinor Wolf,  joined by fellow trainee Marcus Bird and Vinzenz Schiergen, who took us behind the scenes of their foaling rotation at Gainsborough Farm. Elinor Wolf hosted guest Shannon Arvin, Keeneland’s President and CEO, as she outlined the preparation for the upcoming Spring meet. Finally, second-year trainee George Broughton gives an insight into the impact of Covid-19 on the programme and what the second-year team have been experiencing since arriving in the USA for their five-week study tour.

This episode featured the host, Taylor Owens, joined by fellow trainee Jessica Daw to discuss Jessica’s work before the program, some of her key takeaways of the American racing industry, and what is in store for her still. Taylor Owens hosted guest Ben Huffman, Racing Secretary at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, as he discussed his role and some of the behind the scenes of putting on a race meet and the big day that is the Kentucky Derby. Finally, racehorse trainer Brad Cox provides an update on his three stable charges as they vie for a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

In this month’s episode we focus on Women in Racing.  First year trainee, Jessica Daw, speaks to graduate of Flying Start 2018- 2020, Annise Montplaisir. Annise co-founded and is the president of Amplify Horse Racing. Amplify aims to improve Thoroughbred industry education, mentorship and opportunities. This episode also features, Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of the Breeders Cup, Dora Delgado. Dora talks about how she first started in her role at Breeders Cup and offer her advice for future female leaders.

For final episode of Season 1 of the Flying Start Podcast, Jessica Daw and Taylor Owens speak to fellow trainees about their experiences during their externships in America. Vinzenz Schiergan talks to Taylor about what he has learned from renowned horse whisperer Monty Roberts and Jessica has a discussion with Marcus Bird and Lachie Pethica about their externships in Lexington including MyRacehorse and WinStar Farm.