Yudish Geerdharry

I'm originally from Mauritius. I wanted a pony for my sixth birthday and I started going to riding school over there. I started riding ponies, doing showjumping and all that. Mauritius is a small population and most people follow the racing. There is only one track, but is the crowd there that makes the racing out there. It is usually the same temperature and weather. The likes of Frankie Dettori and Johnny Murtagh all went out there and the racing is good enough. I saw Christophe Soumillon riding out there. I went to watch racing there, but never rode racework.

In 2019 I made the transition over to Ireland when I was 14 years of age. My dad came here 15 years ago and wanted to settle here first and get things going. Then the transition would be a lot smoother for us when my family moved over. My brother Vedish was still in college and attended work experience with Dick Brabazon. He said to Dick that I would be coming over the following year, so Dick said to send me over. Vedish used to be in Aidan O'Brien's and now he is a yard manager in Jessica Harrington's. Coming over here I knew how to speak English, but I had learned everything to with horses in French. When I came to Dick's at 14, it was November and he only had yearlings in. I came down on the bus every Saturday morning from Dublin and rode one or two lots when I first started. Dick was a big influence on my career and is probably one of the nicest people I've met in my life. He took me under his wing and taught me everything. I didn't know a thing in English to do with horses, so he and his staff had a bit of patience with me and brought me along. I also had never ridden a racehorse before.

After two years I moved to Johnny Murtagh with a view to getting my licence - Dick spoke to him before I went there. I was still in school, so I came down on weekends and on any days I had off from school, and spring and summer breaks. It took me a good while to get my licence because I was basically in Johnny's for a year and a half, nearly two years. Johnny himself knew when I was ready to go for my licence. The Friday before the declarations for Naas (in November last year), Johnny said to me 'you'll be riding the filly (Wave Machine) in the Birdcatcher'. It was my fifth ride and I followed the instructions he gave me. It paid off and the filly won. I wouldn't say shock, but it just hits you as you go past the post and you kind of realise you have got your first winner.

Even when I'm not riding for Johnny, he still sits down with me every time the next morning and puts up the race. He would tell you what you did wrong and what you did right. These are things that could help you be placed or win a race. I have three winners and he would find something for me to learn from in those winning races as well. For me, it is very helpful as it makes you improve. He knows the tracks and whatever he tells you to do, you do it and it pays off. I'm in there full-time now.

I got a few outside rides for Mr Comer and Mr Bunyan and a few others. Real Force for Mr Bunyan was a spare ride as Dean Curran was supposed to ride him. He was a horse only back after a break running over five furlongs at Cork (in April) which wasn't his trip, but he ended up winning well. That's the main thing, to get a few outside rides as well as rides on Johnny's horses. Basically, the more rides you get, the more you improve. I'd like to get more rides and hopefully pick up a few winners along the way. It is only my first year and, if I'm riding at more tracks, I'll be fully ready to go in my second year. I can claim 7lb off bottom-weight easy enough. The track I like the most so far would be Cork, it is a very nice track and you can go fast there.

Before I came here, I knew about the Irish racing industry. It is just way better than anywhere in Europe, I think it has the best jockeys and the best horses. That's why I wanted to come here and learn.