Scholarship success for Arrowfield’s Holly Ross
Arrowfield’s Assistant Broodmare Manager Holly Ross has been awarded the Sunline Trust’s 2013 International Management Scholarship.
Holly will head to England at the end of February to work at Cheveley Park in Newmarket, for the first stage of her scholarship.
Pictured: Holly Ross, the 2013 Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship winner. (PHOTO: NZTBA)
The Scholarship aims to identify existing and potential managers within the New Zealand thoroughbred industry, offer them an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and experience, and highlight the diverse career options available within the international bloodstock business.
Each recipient spends around eight months overseas working at Cheveley Park in England, and Coolmore in Ireland for the Northern Hemisphere breeding season, before going to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky to prepare yearlings for the sales at Saratoga and Keeneland. Along the way they leanr about all aspects of the industry in a different environment.
“I am very excited about the chance to visit three of the world’s most renowned and successful thoroughbred operations. I am also looking forward to attending some great race meetings, meeting new people and experiencing the culture of the three countries,” said Holly, who applied for the scholarship because she saw it as an ideal next step in her career in the thoroughbred industry.
Holly grew up in Whangarei and was educated at Whangarei Girls’ High School. She became interested in horses at a very young age and competed in numerous disciplines within the equine circuit before focusing on eventing during her final years of school. Holly attended Waikato University where she gained a Bachelor of Management Studies with a double major in Marketing and International Management.
“During my first year of university I saw a job advertised over summer for yearling prep at The Oaks Stud and thought I would enjoy it. This was my first experience with thoroughbreds and I absolutely loved it. The following year I did a yearling prep for Cambridge Stud as I admired Sir Patrick Hogan and his success. I stayed at Cambridge Stud whilst I completed my degree and became more and more involved in the industry.”
She then went to Australia and took up her current position at Arrowfield Stud as Assistant Broodmare Manager.
“I applied for the Sunline Scholarship as I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity and an ideal next step for my career in the industry. I have a very open mind towards ideas for the future. At the moment I am enjoying working hands on, but would like to end up in a management position. I am also very interested in marketing and international business and would like to use my degree and get involved in that area of the industry.
“I am extremely grateful for everyone that has helped with my career so far. I’ve had a great deal of support from the team at Cambridge Stud and learnt so much recently during my time at Arrowfield. I am very lucky to be given this opportunity and will definitely make the most of it,” she concluded.
NZTBA CEO Michael Martin congratulated Holly on being awarded the scholarship and said that she follows on from an outstanding group of young New Zealanders who have won the Sunline Scholarship in recent years.
The Scholarship is sponsored by the Sunline Education Trust, established in 2002 with the funds originally raised by the NZTBA Auckland branch, and supplemented this year by the proceeds of the dinner held at Government House in honour of the Association’s Patron, Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
