Clodagh Kavanagh: Flying Leadership In The Thoroughbred Industry

Q: What are your goals for Godolphin Flying Start? 

A: o to start with what is your vision for Dolly flying start?

Cody - Sheikh Mohammed's vision for the program is to be the source of future Thoroughbred industry leaders. The Thoroughbred industry would be strengthened and be successful in the future. 

It is my understanding that it is his belief (and mine) that the way to do that is through people. If people are leaders with strong visions (of their own) then no doubt, they will be able to be the stewards of the industry into the future. So that's one part of the vision and then the other part is operational - to be able to attract the highest caliber talent to the program. If we have high caliber students then we have a much better chance of success in producing service industry leaders and further attracting the highest caliber students to the program. 

Q: What would you like to see achieved at the end of 2030? 

A: I would like to see more of our graduate board members and as core people of industry organization so that we have something to contribute to the industry and to lead the industry. So, not just having individual success, but also having you know being on board being on committees of, for example, the British Horse Racing Authority or any of these, National Breeders Association or National Trainers Association. And doing this as well. 

And I think this year proves that we definitely need that we need strategic thinking and innovation. We need leadership capabilities to take people through tough times. Its easier to teach someone to train a horse. It's a completely different story to teach somebody leadership. 

Q: Please tell us more about the program. 

A: It is a very all-encompassing program. The main module is Business and Entrepreneurship. I noticed and I'm going to go up off of the questions just quickly sub-module in your syllabus was Innovation. We believe that its important to be receptive to technology and innovation, to change things for the better, whether it's streamlining something or making something more cost-effective or something more efficient safer better for the health of the animals. 

Q: What are the most significant changes you have either seen or you've brought about within the organization? 

A: I think it's a couple of probably two or three big changes. We didn't have the accreditation from an outside body (with its own benchmarks). But now we are accredited by the University College Dublin Business School. It's a graduate certificate in management. I was very keen to get that because I think it means our trainees have a further level of qualification. I think it's very important to young people and people on the career ladder these days to have a higher level qualification. 

So that was one important piece of it. 

But for me the most important piece was that oversized that's academic oversight - ensuring that we had very high standards and it wasn't just us saying we're doing a great job. We are giving a great education and I felt it was important to have that academic oversight and they've been very that has given us more structure. It has definitely given a higher quality of education and it has given that accreditation to the trainees. So, when they leave Flying Start, it's not just a certificate to say you've done two years in the Thoroughbred Industry, but it's also the leading university in Ireland saying you've achieved this standard. 

For myself and I suppose I needed to change in how I manage the program to meet the needs of the current generation. 

Q: You have a birds-eye view of the global Thoroughbred industry. Where have you seen the most significant changes? 

A: I have seen the biggest change over the last 15 years in the southern hemisphere. Australia has really come into its own and become a more bigger player in the global Thoroughbred industry than they were in 2003. 

Their sales have grown and their horses have evolved to compete at a global level. I guess that they've had to change their own style and they also have to become much more a global player.

Q: What are the values you would like to see in your graduate? 

A: I really admire leadership and integrity to hold themselves accountable. When they say they are going to do something they do it. Thereby contributing to the enhancement of the global Thoroughbred industry. They are listening and developing as well as how a real commitment they show to the horse itself. Whatever business that they are in, the horse is at the centre. They work towards the advancement and care of the horse. They keep learning and are very open. So, I really enjoy seeing these values playing out in their day-to-day lives. 

Q: Please tell us about your favourite horses. 

A: I worked in Australia for a year with a trainer as a track rider. One of the horses I looked after was Better Loosen Up. He won the Japan Cup. He was Champion Racehorse in Australia. I was very lucky to be his groom and rider for a year. That was in 1990. 

I am a big fan of jump racing in Ireland and England. More recently, there was is a brilliant Irish horse called Moscow Flyer, trained by a very successful woman trainer called Jessica Harrington. He was a brilliantly fast and beautiful looking, two-mile, jumping horse. He won at Cheltenham and many other places. For me, he was just amazing.

And then even more recently there is a stallion called Teofilo at Kildangan that I really love. He’s a gorgeous horse and he was a brilliant 2YO. He is already a great stallion but is also going to leave a real legacy behind him. 

I think from riding a horse in Australia to going up to Cheltenham to see Moscow Flyer winning, and then being at Kildangan and having Teofilo’s head sticking out of the door every morning when I go by are my favourite moments with my favourite horses. 

I guess I’m very lucky!

Q: Do you get a chance to attend the yearling sale? 

A: I travel a good deal with my job. If I’m in Sydney in April then I will attend the Easter sales and if I’m in England in October then I will attend the Tattersalls October sale. But the one I attend every year is the Goffs Orby sale in Ireland. I have a good general interest in the Thoroughbred industry and in sales. As I’m not an agent I go up for a couple of hours for a couple of days to meet my industry network. I like to watch the yearlings going through. I have an interest in the pedigrees and the people. 

Q: What is your favourite books?

A: The latest book I’ve read is called 'Legacy'. It's about one of my other passions – sport. I particularly like Rugby. Legacy is basically leadership lessons from the All Blacks Rugby Team, which is the best rugby team in the world. It is a great book about sport and business and leadership. 

Q: How did you get involved in education in the Thoroughbred industry? Where did it all start? 

A: There is an organisation in Ireland called Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE). It for anybody in Ireland who wants a license to train or be a jockey. They have to go to the academy and do courses. I was always interested in that place. It's a charitable trust and I knew that the trustees, so I just ended up doing some part-time work there. My university degree in Agricultural Science and I gave classes in Equine Nutrition. I ended up working there for ten years as the manager. Then the job with Flying Start came up and I progressed there. In the beginning, it was all organic but then I developed the skills like coaching and mentoring needed to gain expertise in education. 

Q: Which has been your favourite Dubai World Cup race?

A: The really big one for me was when Dubai Millenniumone. He was an iconic horse and losing him so early was tragic. It was a truly international race and I think he's winning was amazing & emotional. It was very fitting that Sheikh Mohammed’s horse won the race, given his contribution to the industry all over the world. The year California Chrome won was also exciting as well. The American’s bring certain glitz and glamour and he had such a great reputation. These were the two that stand out for me.