Gwynne and Bacon spread their wings on the Godolphin Flying Start

Cover image courtesy of Godolphin

Every year, an elite cohort embarks on a two-year international study experience unparalleled by any educational institute or vocational course; the Godolphin Flying Start. In the 2026 intake, two of the trainees will be Australian, while Flynn Nicholson from New Zealand will see three reps from down under.

Jackson Gwynne and Liam Bacon have spent the last few years developing their knowledge and deepening their passion for the Thoroughbred industry, and now they prepare to begin a course whose name has become synonymous with success at the industry’s highest levels.

From the bush to bloodstock

Gwynne’s first taste in the industry came from early mornings at the Armidale racetrack where his father Mark was a hobby trainer.

“That is where I grew up loving it,” Gwynne said.

It wasn’t until he turned 18 and moved to Sydney that the opportunity arose for Gwynne to immerse himself more in the industry. He took a stablehand role with John O’Shea and what started as a casual position morphed into a five-year commitment to the stable as Gwynne worked his way up the ranks.

“I have been very, very fortunate to get to learn from John, and from Tom Charlton as well,” Gwynne said.

“I did two and a half years hands-on in the stables, and when I first arrived, one of the horses there was Lost And Running. He was unbeaten in his two first starts. Watching John and Alex (Maher) the foreman manage him was great to see. He always put in his best effort, and if he was on song, he was a very good horse.

“I looked after Benaud when he was in his Classic year, he ran second to Hitotsu, which was a satisfying result. I also looked after Kirwan’s Lane, who was another favourite.”

After two and a half years, a role in the stable’s office arose, and Gwynne leaped at the chance to develop another skillset.

“As it went on, it became more and more about bloodstock, and I got the opportunity to go to some of the sales, both in Australia and New Zealand, so I feel very fortunate to have gotten that position.”

The office role opened Gwynne’s eyes to the industry’s full scope, and gave him a better idea of what role he wanted to play in the future.

“It was the first time I seriously thought about it and started to see a pathway for myself,” he said. “I got to see and speak to all sorts of different people in the bloodstock world and I could look at them and think, ‘that would be a good job to have’.

“I spent a lot of time with James Bester, who is John and Tom’s bloodstock agent, and he was always very good at answering my queries. I could ask him a hundred and one questions every day of the sales, and he was only too happy to help me out every time. I feel very lucky that I got to spend that time with him.”

The Flying Start first appeared on Gwynne’s radar in the January of 2025, when at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“I was talking to people there like Dane Robinson and William Johnson, and I was already aware that the people who did the best in the bloodstock sector all had overseas experiences and connections,” he said. “I knew I was somewhat confined by having just worked for John. I started to look into the course and I spoke to a few graduates, and they all highly recommended it.”

Carving his own path

Bacon’s father Steve is the proprietor of Nocab Racing and racing has been a passion they have shared together. When Bacon approached the end of his education, he found himself wondering if there was a path for him in the Thoroughbred world.

“I originally went to university, and as I got towards the end of my degree, I started to think that working with horses was more what I wanted to do,” he said. “It has been great to share the passion for the horse with my father, and it’s through his racing horses that we knew Bruce Slade. I remember thinking that I should have a conversation with him to see if there's an opportunity somewhere at Newgate to see if I enjoyed the hands-on work.

“Bruce had let me go around with him inspecting before, but I've always wanted to see what it'd be like hands-on working with the horses. So I asked him, and he said, ‘absolutely’. And ever since my first day, I've loved it.”

Bacon was offered a role in the stallion barn in the year that Ozzmosis, King’s Gambit, and Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) joined the roster. Bacon was a big fan of the latter and while it has been bittersweet to see him return to the track, Bacon has enjoyed watching the multiple Group 1 winner in action this racing season.

“Since then, Wild Ruler has been my favourite to work with,” he said. “He’s going really well with his first 2-year-olds. I think he’s got a good chance of really succeeding.”

After the breeding season, Bacon moved over to the yearlings and helped prepare the 2025 draft for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, when the first progeny of Stay Inside broke the $1 million threshold. After the sale, Bacon took advantage of the further education options offered by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and took part in their Graduate Program.

“It was a brand new, eight-week course last year,” he said. “It was absolutely fantastic. We did a week in Melbourne together as a team, and then we all went off and did externships. I did my externship between Yulong and Magic Millions, which they were happy to accommodate. I helped prepare the yearlings at Yulong, which was a great experience. Every place does something a little differently.

“Then at Magics, I got to see the sales agents’ side of things, which was great. We got to go around to the local Queensland farms leading to the March sale, which unfortunately I missed due to the cyclone pushing the sale back.

“But it was really good to see how the team rated each horse and get a good feel for how they would place in the sale. I had a spreadsheet of horses I was following and could keep track of what they sold for, versus what price they were assessed at.”

After his externship was complete, Bacon went to work for Slade and was able to shadow him in his on-farm inspections.

“I learned so much with Bruce, and he's so good with his time,” Bacon said. “I got to go across all the weanling and mare sales with him, and do a lot of pedigree analysis and research and see all the data that goes into it. It was fantastic.”

International appeal

Both Bacon and Gwynne are already overseas ahead of their Flying Start commencement, gaining valuable international experience. Bacon is stationed at Juddmonte, working with the mares and foals as well as in the covering shed, while Gwynne is one of 25 students on the Irish National Stud course, which is a six-month residential course that combines practical elements with coursework and lectures from industry professionals.

The Flying Start had been on Bacon’s radar since his earliest exposure to the industry. There was never any rush for him to apply - at least not until he felt he had banked sufficient experience.

“I really wanted to build my experience and get as much exposure as I possibly could first, and then I was pretty firm on applying this year,” he said.

“I messaged (Flying Start Executive Director) Clodagh (Kavanagh) to see when she was in Australia to talk about the course and make it clear that I was eager to put my best foot forward in applying. It was always a course that you look up to once you hear about it and learn what opportunities it can give you.”

International experience always shines on a Flying Start application, and it was Newgate’s Jim Carey and Jackson Beirs that facilitated Bacon getting across to the United Kingdom after his second season in the stallion barn.

“I also had a personal desire to get over to the United Kingdom and experience how they do things differently,” Bacon said. “Jim and Jackson came and talked to me one day and asked if I had an interest in going overseas, and they had a chat with me about the when and where, and encouraged me to follow through.

“I really look up to those two, as well as to Henry Field and Bruce, they have done a lot for me and have been very supportive of me applying to the Flying Start. I was very ambitious from early on, and they have built me up over the years until I am in the position I am now. They gave me 100% support at every step so I owe everything to Newgate and the team there.”

Gwynne travelled to Ireland also chasing the international perspective to his resume, after being knocked back on his 2025 Flying Start application.

“The feedback in September had been to get some international exposure, and the Irish National Stud was brought up,” Gwynne said.

“We already had a relationship with David Redvers, through horses like Schwarz and Promise Of Success when John had trained both of them, so I was able to get a position over there preparing yearlings for the Tattersalls sales last year. Then I stayed on to do the weanlings and mare sales as well.”

Gwynne was accepted into the Irish National Stud course at the start of the year; the six-month course will come to its conclusion in June, and between the sales experience and his study, Gwynne was accepted into the 2026 intake for the Flying Start.

Gwynne thanked Kavanagh for her feedback on his application, which pushed him to step out of his comfort zone and work overseas.

“I feel very fortunate that Clodagh made the time to give me that feedback, as she does for all applicants,” he said. “I feel very lucky to have gotten onto the course after all, it has worked out perfectly.”

Of the INS course, he said, “it has been a lot of fun. You learn a lot, and there's 25 of us this year, so you walk out with not just 24 friends, but also 24 people you can pick up the phone and trust in all parts of the world as well.”

Kentucky here we come

When asked what they are most looking forward to on the 24-month course, both Bacon and Gwynne highlighted the stint in Kentucky as one they most anticipate.

“I have been lucky enough to spend a week in Kentucky before, and there’s a huge appetite to get back there for six months,” Gwynne said. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere last time I was there, and I can’t wait to get back and see more.”

“Everything and everywhere is exciting, but I am particularly looking forward to Kentucky,” said Bacon. “I have never been exposed to American racing or breeding, so I think that will be the most foreign aspect of the course, which I am very excited about.

“Going to the Kentucky Derby is an experience that I do have circled on the calendar as something I've always wanted to do as well.”

Looking to the future, Gwynne and Bacon both know the bloodstock world is firmly for them.

“I have a massive passion for bloodstock, so I'd love to be a bloodstock agent one day,” Bacon said. “I would love to work towards a position like being the bloodstock director of a large stud farm one day. Obviously it takes time to get there, but that is definitely the path I want to go down, and hopefully in time with more experience, I can find my niche.”

“I think I would like to work for a sales company or a big stud if possible,” Gwynne said. “I would love to work with someone like Sebastian Hutch, an opportunity like that would be fantastic. I think he's got such a good mind, and the sales are a great place to meet people and understand the industry even better.”

Another horse who sticks in Gwynne’s memory from the O’Shea sale is Rosemont Stud stallion Schwarz, whose first yearlings will be at the sales in 2028, when Gwynne will be attending the Magic Millions January sale as part of the Flying Start.

“It’s pretty exciting to be able to look forward to that,” he said. “He is such a good looking horse, so hopefully he can pass that on, as well as his ability.”