Michael Blomeley, foreman and data analyst for Danny O’Brien Racing in Australia, shares his experience with the Equiscience program. Driven by his ambition to become a successful trainer, Michael explains how Equiscience has equipped him to integrate data and sports science into his daily routine.
Discover his journey, early successes, and vision for the future of horse racing through the power of data.
Could you introduce yourself?
I’m Michael Blomeley. I’m the foreman for Danny O’Brien Racing, at his property in Barwon Heads in Victoria, Australia. I’m also doing some work as his data analyst, logging all of our data from our work and reporting that back to Danny and our training team, including our Assistant trainers.
What motivated you to enroll in the Equiscience training?
My overall goal is to be a successful trainer myself one day in the future. I’ve always been looking for ways to learn new things and improve myself toward achieving that goal. Talking to Danny, I realized that using this new knowledge could also be an asset to his business, which is a bonus.
I’ve always had a keen interest in using data to analyze races in the past, so this training was just a natural progression to learn more about using data for training.
In your opinion what has been the main added value of the training in your daily life?
The training has given me the tools and knowledge to know what to look for in our training. It helps me be confident in what we’re doing with the data and provides meaningful feedback to Danny, which assists him in making decisions.
Could you share a concrete example of where Equiscience or the use of data was useful for you or had a positive impact?
We had a horse that won one of his early races in his preparation but then declined rapidly after that win. Through the data reports, we backed off the horse and investigated if there was something wrong. We discovered he was sore in a couple of spots. After treating those issues, the horse’s data improved dramatically, and he went on to win two races in a row.
These kinds of early success stories show we’re on the right path with what we’re doing.
With your experience, both in the field and in team management, how do you see the integration of data and sports science into traditional racehorse training practices?
I see data as a tool to complement the art of training a horse. It backs up what the trainer sees and what riders feel. It can also provide clues that may differ from their observations. Using data as a complementary tool to trainers’ instincts and experience is, in my opinion, the best way forward.
You’ve expressed your ambition to become a successful trainer. How do you plan to use Equiscience training to achieve this goal?
I plan to use the knowledge from Equiscience as a springboard for my data journey. I’ll continue looking for ways to improve and integrate data here at Danny’s when I eventually run my own stable. This training is just the beginning, and I’ll build on that foundation to operate more efficiently in the future.
What are the main advantages of Equiscience for you?
The data gives me something to back up what I see as a foreman. I’m with the horses every morning, and at the end of the day, I get to analyze the data. It helps me have meaningful conversations with riders and staff about what we’re seeing and feeling with the horses. It’s a great complement to my daily work.
Could you tell us more about your professional projects and direction?
At the moment, my main project is implementing data at Danny’s stable. I’m working on building a database to track horses throughout their careers, comparing their past preparations to their current ones, and monitoring their development as they age. This background data is a priority for me right now.
What values would you use to describe the Equiscience program in the horse industry?
For me, it’s about confidence, confidence in using data and the ability to start investigating it further. The training gave me a strong starting point to build on.
Thank you, Michael, for sharing your journey with us. We look forward to seeing the continued success and advancements that you and all our alumni will bring to the field of equine sports science.
For those interested in learning more about the Equiscience program and how it can benefit your career, please visit the Equiscience webpage.
Contact:
📧 michael.blomeley06@gmail.com
Key Words: equiscience, program, training, equine data analyst, horse performance analyst, sport science horse, equine sport science, training program equine, equine learning, equine careers, horse career, equimetre, data analyst
Photo: Twitter profile: Mickblom06