by Greg Martin

On my way home after interviewing Godolphin Australia operations manager , Craig Nolan , for some bloody reason my thoughts turned to the first two lyrics of a song recorded back , goodness knows when , by a long-forgotten group , the Greg Kiln Band .

Reason being that after spending an hour or so chatting with Craig , methought , ” crikey , is he ever a happy man ”. Those two stanzas were :

I do not ask for much Something real that I can touch Someone there late at night Someone there to hold me tight You know I understand Just what it takes To be a happy man .

And boy-oh-boy , is Craig Nolan a happy man !

Happily , indeed , blissfully married to Jane for 25 years , the doting father to an obviously delightful 18-year-old daughter , Lara , and heading off each working day to a place he absolutely cherishes .

His Highness , Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates , is the founder of the most powerful racing establishment in the world .

And the reason why it is so , is because of the zillions of dollars the Emirates earns through its tapping of oil wells , but most importantly , Sheik Mohammed employs only the best .

The best trainers , jockeys ,

administrators , and staff . And that includes the personnel at splendid Godolphin ’ s Osborne Park racing stables at Agnes Banks .

James Cummings puts the polish on the horses and Craig Nolan , as operations manager , oversees all other aspects of giant operation . “ I ’ ve been involved in thoroughbred horse racing for most of my life and for me , working at Godolphin is the pinnacle ,” Craig said .

Godolphin is certainly Craig ’ s “ happy place ” – working with thoroughbreds and alongside like-minded people at the stateof-the-art training complex .

Craig ’ s career in horse racing began back home in New Zealand in the mid-70s when , on leaving school , he commenced a jockey apprenticeship under renowned training duo , brothers , Leo and Roy Robinson . The Robinsons owned and trained Van Der Hum , the mudlark which churned through the quagmire to win the 1976 Melbourne Cup .

“ I was with the Robinsons for 15 months , kicked home a couple of winners and then had my indentures transferred to Nigel Landers who became a leading trainer after a successful career in the saddle ,” Craig recalled .

In 1978 , the racing world became Craig ’ s oyster when leading Sydney trainer and fellow Kiwi , Paul Sutherland , on a visit back home , took note of Craig ’ s ability in the saddle . Paul sweet-talked Landers into permitting Craig to accompany him back to Sydney for a six-month riding stint .

“ Paul wanted to make use of my threekilogram

apprentice allowance , and Mr Landers gave him the OK ,” Craig explained .

“ I flew over to Sydney , accompanying five horses which were also heading to Paul ’ s Rosehill stables .

I arrived on a Tuesday , did trackwork riding and secured five mounts at the following Saturday ’ s meeting at Mudgee where I kicked home three winners , all at good odds .

“ The trainers and owners of the three horses were delighted with their winnings and so was I , because the slings were big .”

Craig continued to kick home winners and when his six months loan ended , Craig and Sutherland wanted the partnership to continue and Landers , although upset with losing his promising young hoop , agreed to transfer Craig ’ s indentures .

Tall for a jockey , Craig successfully kept race riding until 1982 when his increasing weight built up to match his height . During his riding career , Craig kicked home 107 winners on both sides of the Tasman Sea , including several more trebles .

In 1984 , Craig joined the army and spent two years with the Royal Australian Engineers Corps before the equine world once again beckoned . Craig ’ s journey back in horse racing commenced again when he landed a job working on an agistment