DUBAI, UAE. – I was privileged on Monday, 21 February, to get a visit from at the Grandstand  Stable complex here in Dubai from 12 students enrolled in the Darley Flying Start Programme, writes MIKE DE KOCK.

 This is an international training course for people interested in management positions in the thoroughbred industry, and the selected students are from Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s free management training programme.

The inaugural class started in August 2003 and included stints in Ireland, England, Australia and Dubai.

The students are a qualified bunch. Among them was a lawyer who is pursuing his dream of working in the racing industry.

The Darley Flying Start pogramme is a wonderful initiative which will produce many quality workers for racing in years to come, and I was impressed with their knowledge already acquired. The students will spend the next few months in Dubai before graduating in July.