Arvin shares his love for horses
BY ALEX TIGANI
“No matter what we always look after our horses after their great successes on the racetrack.”
These were the words from Godolphin Australia’s Arvin Chadee who is the nomination sales consultant with Darley Stallions.
Walking between the paddocks and the stables of Godolphin’s Kelvinside Stud near Aberdeen, Arvin admits it has been surreal to call the Upper Hunter home since 2022.
“Living here in Scone, I have released the importance it has in the global thoroughbred world and not just Australia,” Arvin told The Hunter River Times.
“I have been to Newmarket and Kentucky and in terms of skills of people, there is no better place to raise a racehorse.
“Here they are just so relaxed and content.”
Arvin will be sharing his insights on the industry for those fortunate enough to have booked a spot on the Scone Horse Festival Kelvinside Stud tour to be held on Monday, May 8.
He will also share his remarkable story.
Originally from London, his father used to take him to Epsom Downs to watch the Derby.
“From there as a child I was a huge fan of horse racing, it captured my imagination,” he continued.
Following his parents’ advice, Arvin attended Manchester University to studying physical geography.
Yet his passion remained in horse racing, attending the National Horse Racing College in Doncaster.
“I wasn’t sure how to hold a head collar on my first day but that was the foundation of how I started working with horses,” he admitted.
The following ten years he rode track work in England for trainers Karl Burke, Dean Ivory and Mick Appleby while studying a business degree.
By the decade’s end, he was fortunate enough to gain a position on the Godolphin Flying Start program – a two-year scholarship awarded to twelve scholars a year sponsored by his highness Sheik Mohammad.
The program had 12 selected from 1500 applicants.
“I came to Australia in 2020 through the program and absolutely loved it,” he reflected.
“As soon as I graduated in Ireland, my partner and I made the decision to go back to Australia because this is the part of the industry that is thriving.
“There was a real want and passion to help young people progress and get a career in the thoroughbred industry.
“That is how I ended up in Godolphin Australia.”
Champion Australian racehorse Lonhro also calls Kelvinside Stud.
The 11-time Group One winner is a drawing card on the tour.
“To your left to your right you just see superstar after superstar, Lonhro is probably one of the most loved racehorse’s alongside Winx,” Arvin explained.
“He really captured the imagination of Australian racing fans and the Australian public.”
Wednesday, May 3 will also mark 20 years since Lonhro’s memorable victory at the 2003 Queen Elizaeth Stakes.
“He recently retired him from Stud duty this year, he is a 25-year-old,” he concluded.
“We like to show people that they have a life at Darley with lots of grass to graze and be a healthy happy horse.”