Apprentice jockey Kavish Chowdhoory is still on a high after recording his first stakes win aboard Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Having ridden a few stakes placings, Chowdhoory said it was an exciting moment to finally get that winning result.
“It was good to get my first stakes win,” he said.
“She (Live Drama) is a nice horse and she was a bit unlucky in her previous race. I was a little bit confident heading into the race and she was looking for the 1400m as well.
“She was a bit slow out (of the gates) and got a bit further back than I was anticipating. From there she was travelling really well. I stuck to the fence and she was doing it pretty easy to get a nice win.
“I have had a few placings and it is always something I have wanted to do, get a stakes win.
“It was good to tick that off the bucket list.”
Hailing from Mauritius, Chowdhoory wasn’t intent on becoming a jockey until moving to Australia.
“It was not until I was about 20 that I decided I wanted to be a jockey,” he said.
“Back home I used to help in the stables. I moved to Sydney when I was 19 and I went to riding school there and worked there for about six years.
“Richard Collett (trainer) always said to me that if I wanted to come over here (New Zealand) I would do well.
“I then decided to give it a go here. Richard gave me my first win and he has been a really big help.
“I am apprenticed to Michael Pitman. They have always backed me and been really supportive.
“I am a few winners off riding 100 winners for the stable and that is something I would like to tick off.
“They have been really good to me, they are like my family here.”
Chowdhoory hasn’t been able to visit his family since the start of the pandemic and he said he is looking forward to travelling home in the coming months.
“With COVID I haven’t been able to see my family,” he said.
“I will ride until winter and then I will look to take a break. I haven’t had a break for the last three years, I have just been working.
“I am looking forward to going back for a month or so.”
While he is looking forward to reuniting with his family, Chowdhoory is currently focused on his next rides at Riverton on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old will have five rides on the eight-race card, including two for his employers Michael and Matthew Pitman – Whale Song (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Forde Winders Shearing (1600m) and Lennon (NZ) (Pour Moi) in the JJ LTD/Jan Wisely & First National (1200m).
“Whale Song has been going some nice races lately and I think Riverton will really suit him. He needs a bit of cut in the ground, so I think he is a winning chance,” Chowdhoory said.
“Last start he carried 60-kilos and ran third. He gets a big drop in weight (55.5kg), which will help. He is my best ride of the day.
“Lennon is a horse that likes to go forward and keep rolling. He likes a bit of cut in the ground as well and I think he is a top three chance.”
Chowdhoory will also have two rides for dual-Island trainer Stephen Marsh – Philote (NZ) (Highly Recommended) in the TRENZ Homes/Barnes Oysters (1400m) and Deels Done (NZ) (Dundeel) in the Donald White hedgecutting/Forde Auto Services (1400m).
“Philote’s run the other day wasn’t too bad and the other horse (Deels Done) is resuming,” he said.
“I have won on him before and I am expecting a bold run from him fresh-up over 1400m.”
Chowdhoory will close out the meeting aboard Red Sunday (NZ) (Hallowed Crown) in the Insurance Brokers Alliance/Western Electrical (2147m) for trainer Paul Harris.
“Red Sunday has been going some really good races without winning,” he said. “He went well on Saturday in an open handicap and dropping back in class I think they will be a top three chance.”
