The Road to Racing: March 2007

Monday, March 19, 2007

Racing Brothers for life

It was passion that changed our life during a formative trip to Australia. The passion of Horse Racing drove us to the Racing headquarters of the AJC. And March 2006 marked the start of a new era for Jonathan and I in the Australian Racing world. Today seems to be like a huge milestone.

Just to refresh our memories; I came here for my Journalism degree whereas Jonathan settled as an Apprentice-jockey to pursue his dream to be a professional jockey. When we think about it...how does this connect us? Back in harness I was a Sport Journalist and Horse Racing writer for the Mauritius Turf Club and besides that Jonathan was an Apprentice with an effervescent skills and potential. We have experienced and accomplished our duties of being part of the Racing family at home.

But the standout story for me that year came in March. We were re-united as 'Racing Brothers' at David Payne's Stable to pursue our goal. This is to set up a business in Oz. And ironically we could then get our story beamed out around the country. As a matter of fact we haven't reached that stage yet. It's been now a year that we have moved on to the next step in the Australian Racing industry. I presume we were both ready for it. I was the first to make the big move from Payne's stable to John O'Shea Racing Stable in Randwick. I tried to bring him up with me but I was too powerless for that. I reckon that surprise is an absolute paramount to his move couple of months ago to Mick Price Racing Stable in Melbourne to pursue his career as an apprentice. So far he is enjoying himself by riding couples of Group 1 horses like Red Dazzler, Pompeii Ruler, Captious etc...Time will tell then when he will be ready for the big ride in races.

On the contrary of his story mine is slightly different. I have decided to put my journalism degree on hold this year due to financial hardship (meant to be my last year degree) to focus on the racing issue. I have a determined and a willful personality that this could work out for me. And I reckon I didn't take the wrong decision. At the moment I’m working my way up as a stable hand though I’m doing an Owner-Trainer course. Still inwardly, I’m jubilant of being part of the O'Shea team.

Being bounded by Group 1 horses such as Racing to Win, Reigning to Win, Just Mambo, Primus and Safwa...is just a pleasure to fulfill my dream of becoming a good trainer one day.

Soon there’s a great probability that Jonathan and I might team up together to start off as ‘Racing Brothers’ in Oz. I can’t wait to see what going to be the next episode of our stunning jaunt in the Australian Horse Racing Industry.

Biography

Time has flown so fast these last decades. On the 14th September 2004, I found myself in a new country, with a different culture and different lifestyle. After spending twenty-four years going with the flow of life in Mauritius, now I find myself ”swimming in the vast ocean” in Sydney.
I wasn’t randomly chosen to be here in Australia. But the fate decreed that I should be here instead of somewhere else. Even though I had missed my chance of being in France or Reunion Island in the past but I don’t regret the move towards partaking the Aussie culture. Since October 2004, one dream has come true; being at the University of Technology of Sydney (UTS) by undertaking a degree in Journalism. Merely to become a professional ‘Sport Writer’.
As a matter of fact, it took me years to achieve what I have always wished in life – going to University. Now, I’m re-arranging the puzzle of my achievement so that I can complete the whole part of the puzzle in Sydney nowadays. The long trip I navigate before the plane landed the tarmac of SIA, however, was far more awe-inspiring.
My horizons were limited during 23 years I spent in Pointe-Aux-Sables; a small village on the west coast of Port-Louis, the Capital of Mauritius. My roots, which I take care of, come from this suburb where I was born on 12 March 1981; the Independence Day of Mauritius.
I have grown up in a small family with my dad, Roland, my mum, Monette and my younger brother, Stephane. At the time we were living in a typical modest house in the 80’s, it was such a model family living in a perfect communion of dialogue. During these years, it was such a formal and informal education. I won’t forget along side the ‘street education’ I have internalized so many years ago as a means of experiencing life in its entire dimension. I have shared my whole entire life with them full of happiness, joy, feelings, and compassion in a way of complacency as well as disagreement and arguments.
And I realize now how the success has come to me after a long battle. Finishing my HSC Advanced-level at the age of 20, reaching my best athletic performance at 21 and embracing a career as ‘Sport Journalist’ at 22 in 2002 working for a weekly newspaper, 5-Plus Dimanche and Racetime magazine. The mad thing was having a high status and famous personality where people recognize me through my articles and their impact in the Sports and Horse racing industry. It was the pinnacle of my career.
Knowing how tougher and tougher it was to ‘reach the top’ in a couple of years, but it wasn’t an easy things to achieve. Behind this success, there’s a family; the Jeanne’s family including Sylvio, Annette and their daughter Priscilla has been the catalyst of a massive contribution and devotion throughout my life. Their help, support and guidance have helped me to excel my qualities of making things better and better.
Contented with today and excited about tomorrow, I feel as happy right now as I ever have in nearly twenty-six years. I’m extremely happy about my life here in Sydney, my studies at Uni and my job at the stable...John O’Shea Racing Stables. Who knows I’ll end up like John O’Shea one day! It goes against the grain with me to even have to mention it: what goes on at the heart of my life in Sydney is no-one else’s business, but mine after all. I have proved myself in a way that people haven’t expected things will be a success for me. Now there are a lot of things to be learning yet and I’ll dedicate myself to it. A lot of living for me to do too, I can’t wait to find out what the next twist in my story – will be.