Cover image courtesy of Inglis
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) have announced three mentees for its third annual Mentorship Program; Rebecca O’Reilly, Josh Seward, and Lachlan Shore will be mentored by three FBAA members across six weeks, during which they will also get the opportunity to experience the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale and the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
The Mentorship Program was established in 2024 to support the development of the next generation of bloodstock agents, as part of the FBAA’s commitment to self improvement and to provide the kind of opportunities that helped many FBAA members on the journey to become the agents they are today.
Craig Rounsefell | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“The pool of candidates we received this year were extremely strong, and it was a very hard decision that we had to make,” said Craig Rounsefell, President of the FBAA and director of Boomer Bloodstock.
“There were a lot of people that were very well qualified and with great experience, but at the end of the day, we were really looking for those people that have a real passion for bloodstock, people that we felt we could help really develop their careers in the industry.”
The 2026 intake
O’Reilly will be mentored by Louis Mihalyka of Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) for her duration of the program. She has a Bachelor degree in International Business Studies and most recently has been working for Sledmere Stud in the Hunter Valley.
“Rebecca has a very impressive resume,” said Rounsefell. “She is university educated and she has worked outside of the industry at a professional capacity for KPMG. She has realised that the Thoroughbred industry is where she wants her career to be, and she's been working at Sledmere for a while now.
"She came strongly recommended by everyone she's worked with and she interviewed very well. She was a very strong candidate.”
Rebecca O'Reilly | Image supplied
“I’m incredibly excited to be selected for the FBAA Mentorship Program,” O’Reilly said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to learn from industry experts and gain career-shaping insight from professionals I deeply admire.”
"It’s an amazing opportunity to learn from industry experts and gain career-shaping insight from professionals I deeply admire." - Rebecca O'Reilly
Seward comes to the program from Sydney, where he has been studying at the University of Technology Sydney, whilst also working at the Randwick stable of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. He will be mentored by Peter Twomey of Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA).
“Josh is another impressive candidate,” Rounsefell said. “He has been working for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton while studying at university, and he also interviewed extremely well. He’s a very passionate young guy who really wants to be in the bloodstock industry going forward.”
Josh Seward | Image supplied
“It is a privilege to be accepted onto the FBAA Mentorship Program,” Seward said. “Applying was a no-brainer when looking for avenues to develop my bloodstock career - the program’s feedback and reputation speak for themselves.
"Applying was a no-brainer when looking for avenues to develop my bloodstock career." - Josh Seward
“I see this as an excellent chance to extend my bloodstock knowledge and industry connections, and I cannot wait to begin working closely with Peter Twomey and the FBAA members.”
Shore will be mentored by Rounsefell, and hails from Melbourne, where he has just completed a carpentry apprenticeship. The work ethic and discipline required to finish the apprenticeship, as well as his previous experiences working for trainer Michael Hickmott, is what made his application stand out from the crowd.
Lachlan Shore | Image supplied
“Lachlan is a slightly more left field choice than the other two,” said Rounsefell. “He has a carpentry background and he has had hands-on experience working in a racing stable, but the thing about him is that he has just got such passion for the industry. He really wants to be a bloodstock agent, he is very enthusiastic and he has this great willingness to learn. We wanted to give him the chance to put him on the right path.”
“I’m incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity to learn from the best in the industry,” said Shore. “The Mentorship Program offers an exciting chance to further my knowledge and experience, and I can’t thank the FBAA enough.”
All three will commence their mentorships on May 11, which will run until June 19.
