Mauritian jockey and Brazilian trainer combine to break rider's two-year losing streak in Ireland

The unusual combination of a Mauritian jockey and Brazilian trainer teamed up to land a Fairyhouse handicap on Thursday evening – and for the rider it was an especially welcome winner.

Yudish Geerdharry had not ridden a winner since April 2023 until the unlikely success on 40-1 shot Lovely, trained by Diego Dias, the Kildare-based South American who was saddling his first winner since December.

“It was a multicultural victory," said Geerdharry. “It almost felt like my first winner. I had to put the same graft in as I did to get my first, so it was pure relief.”

The 21 year-old apprentice rode his first winner on just his sixth ride when landing the Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas for Johnny Murtagh on Wave Machine in November 2022.

He added further winners in January and April the following year, but then had to wait more than two years and 88 rides before this week's triumph.

“I left Johnny for a while but am back with him now,” said Geerdharry. "Like a lot of jockeys, I went through a dry period. The dream was always there, I could never give up.

"I said there's no point in giving up, if that's the dream I'll just keep going and hope there's light at the end of the tunnel."

Diego Dias: trainer of Fairyhouse winner LovelyCredit: Patrick McCann

Geerdharry doesn’t have the most typical background for someone who plies his trade riding horses around Irish racecourses.

“I came to Ireland when I was 14,” he said. “My father has been here for 27 years and he wanted us to come.

“Racing is popular in Mauritius but none of my family were involved in it. I just grew up watching it and at six years of age I wanted a pony for my birthday. After that my dream was always to be a jockey.

“When I was still at school in Dublin I started working at Dick Brabazon’s yard, I would get the bus over there every Easter and summer holidays. Dick sent me on to Johnny.”

The young Mauritian is hoping to use his Fairyhouse win as a platform to build on.

“It's the perfect time to ride a winner,” he said. "The season is just getting going and my main focus is to ride as many winners as I can until the end of it, and we'll see how we go from there.”

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