Apprentice Atchamah loving life in Christchurch

[Wandering Eyes]

Last season’s Champion South Island apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah moved to Christchurch at the start of the year, and he is loving every moment.

Atchamah moved to the Garden City to continue his apprenticeship under Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston, and he has enjoyed several career highlights in that time.

In January he scored a four-timer at Reefton, and at Wingatui on Sunday he went close to matching that achievement when posting a winning treble.

The 28-year-old Mauritian kicked off the day in winning fashion aboard the Kelvin Tyler-trained Go Lotte in the Positive Signs + Print 82 1400m. He teamed up with the Riverton horseman later on the card to score with Albatross in the Rylock Otago 75 1600m, and rode the Danny Crozier-trained Toblerone to her maiden victory in the Nellies Restaurant & Bar Maiden 1400m.

“I was very confident when I was going to the races. I thought I could get three wins and I was pleased that I did it,” Atchamah said.

“I rode Go Lotte last time. I told the trainer I would like to be on the horse again and I was confident we could win.

“I knew Danny Crozier’s horse came from up north and it was his second run down south. The other one (Albatross) for Kelvin won by four lengths last time and I was confident they would go well again.”

Atchamah became interested in horse racing as a child, but it wasn’t until he started working as a groom in his homeland that a career as a jockey entered his mind.

“When I was young, I was watching races back home with my father and brother, and then one of my friend’s took me to the racecourse,” he said.

“I left school at a young age and I told my mum I wanted to work with horses.

“I was working as a groom and then my boss asked me if I wanted to ride, I said yes, and it has gone from there.”

While content pursuing a career as a jockey in his homeland, Atchamah was offered a job with Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons via their now co-trainer Vicky Ramhit.

“He was looking for people to work for them and he offered me a job,” Atchamah said.

Atchamah has lived in the wider Canterbury area for the last four years but has now found himself in the South Island’s capital working for leading trainer Andrew Carston, and Atchamah said the move has been a great assist to his riding.

“I can see the four months since I have worked for him, I have improved a lot. I get a lot of good advice,” he said.

Atchamah said he has also taken confidence from former stable apprentice Kozzi Asano’s success, with the former Champion apprentice jockey now plying his trade in the North Island.

While Atchamah has ambitions of following in his stable predecessor’s footsteps, he said for now his focus is on outriding his three-kilogram claim by season’s end.

“Last year I was (South Island) Champion Apprentice. This year I would like to out ride my three-kilogram claim this season,” he said.

Atchamah has a number of horses he is looking forward to riding over the next few months to help him achieve that goal, with the top of the list being a stable favourite.

“I really like one for Andrew’s called Mogul, he is my favourite horse,” he said.

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