Meet the 18-year-old jockey who had never ridden a racehorse until 2018

Fresh from riding his first winner under rules, young jockey Yudish Geerdharry is hoping 2023 can be the year he makes a name for himself on the Irish racing scene.

Fondly nicknamed 'The Mauritian Magician', having made the move to Ireland from Mauritius at the age of 14, Geerdharry had never even sat on a thoroughbred as little as five years ago.

Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, has a population of just over a million people. Geerdharry says the vast majority of them are "racing mad". Having watched local races on TV and ridden ponies in his homeland, it was always the young rider's intention to one day make the move from home.

"Racing is very popular in Mauritius," said Geerdharry. "I was riding ponies in a riding school over there, doing showjumping and so on. I sat on horses over there but they weren't thoroughbreds. It was so different when I came to Ireland. I'd never sat on a thoroughbred!"

Yudish Geerdharry rode his first winner when partnering Wave Machine in the Birdcatcher Premier Nursery at Naas in NovemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Geerdharry's father has been in Ireland since 2006, managing a restaurant in Rathgar, Dublin. Yudish always had intentions to follow his father and knew Ireland would be the perfect place to explore his dreams of riding at the top level.

"That was always the plan," said Geerdharry. "He came over here and when he got settled, I knew I'd follow him over. I was always interested in horses since I was young. When I knew I wanted to be a jockey, Dad chose the right country as well in Ireland. It was a great opportunity and I wanted to see how it'd go."

Fast forward to November 2018, once Geerdharry had settled into school and Irish culture, he found his first weekend job riding out for Dick Brabazon on the Curragh.

"Dick was a massive influence," said the 18-year-old. "Before I came here, my brother Vedish had already come over, and he had work experience at Dick's. He said that I was coming over next year and Dick told him to send me on. I was only 14, I was only about seven stone and he had to take me under his wing. I was riding yearlings and we went from there."

Geerdharry soon got to grips with the world of racing at Brabazon's. The teenager knew everything about the equipment, having learned it all in French, and once his English was up to speed he began to flourish.

'It just happened so fast'

The small-time trainer, despite his wishes, was not in a position to offer a licence to the young Mauritian. However, he did know someone that could be and made contact with Johnny Murtagh.

"I did two years with Dick and then when I was about to go into fifth year, he told me 'I'd love to give you your licence, I wish I could but I can't'," said Geerdharry. "I started doing weekends over at Johnny's when I was still in school in Dublin. I was coming up every Friday evening and staying the weekends at Johnny's until I finished school in June."

A first ride under rules in Ireland soon followed, something Geerdharry admitted was a bit of a culture shock.

"It just happened so fast!" said Geerdharry. "I thought I was fit! Every jockey said it to me that you won't even be able to remember it. That's exactly what happened. Once I got a taste for it though, it only pushed me on to make myself better."

On November 6, the day Yudish had dreamed of arrived, when he rode Murtagh's filly Wave Machine to victory in the Birdcatcher at Naas. "It's just a feeling that you want to keep on getting," said the jockey. "It's been in my mind since. It motivates you so much and just pushes you on. You want to do it again. You hope every horse you ride is going to win."

Yudish Geerdharry pictured with winning connections of Wave Machine following his first career winner at Naas in NovemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Geerdharry has had 15 rides in Ireland, and is hoping more opportunities come his way in 2023.

"The plan is just to keep getting rides and taking my chances really," said Geerdharry. "Johnny has been brilliant to me and has given me those chances. It's just been hit and miss sometimes. Johnny sits down with me after every race and I'm lucky to be able to learn from him. My main goal is to lose the 10lb claim and set a name for myself for next year when the season starts. Hopefully, I'll have my claim gone by the end of this year and I'll take my chances at Dundalk in January."

The move to Ireland has certainly paid off for Geerdharry, with his brother Vedish now also working for Ballydoyle. The teenager takes three rides at Dundalk on Wednesday, riding twice for Murtagh as well as Gerard Hussey's Macaban City.

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