Rihaan Goyaram has added his name to the growing list of successful expat Mauritian jockeys in New Zealand after he posted his first win aboard Niagara Sky (NZ) (Niagara) at Pukekohe on Wednesday.
Goyaram had been riding on race day for just two weeks before he guided the three-year-old filly to her debut win for his employer Ralph Manning.
“I am very happy and very grateful for the help I have had from trainers and everybody around me,” Goyaram said.
“She had two trials for a fourth and a win, and the horse has been working well over the last couple of weeks, so I knew she was a chance. I was quite confident.
“I am very happy. My boss has put me on some nice horses, and it just makes work easier.”
The Mauritius native first got the racing bug when he went to the track in his homeland and decided he wanted to pursue a career as a jockey, with a move to New Zealand being his best option to pursue his chosen vocation.
“I used to go and watch the races in Mauritius, and I fell in love with it and decided I wanted to be a jockey,” Goyaram said.
“I saw there were some nice opportunities in New Zealand for new apprentice jockeys. I contacted Mr Ralph Manning and asked him for a chance. He sorted out all my paperwork and got me here.
“I was just riding retired racehorses back at home in Mauritius and when I came here I started from zero, Ralph taught me everything about racehorses.
“In November it is going to be two years since I have been with him. He has taught me everything, from groundwork to track work and trials, and now race day.”
Goyaram has joined a growing pool of Mauritian jockeys in New Zealand, and he said fellow expat Ashvin Goindasamy has been a great help in settling into New Zealand and helping enhance his riding talent.
“When I first came here, Ashvin Goindasamy had just finished his apprenticeship with Ralph Manning and he helped me start off,” Goyaram said.
“I started to meet more Mauritians around the country and it has been a good experience. It is always nice to meet another Mauritian and be able to speak in your own language for a little bit.”
Goyaram is pleased to have got on the board as a jockey and will look to quickly enchance on that mark with rides at Tauranga and Te Aroha this weekend.
