Kevin Kalychurun (photo: supplied)
Wednesday, 16 January 2019 saw a brand new name in the race card, when Kevin Kalychurun cantered down for Scottsville’s 6th race aboard the Doug Campbell trained Vallanaut.
The affable young Mauritian is in South Africa with his wife Mershia on a temporary riding license. Currently settled in Durban, he is spending two days of the week at Ashburton and two at Summerveld and hopes to make the most of his 3-month stint.
“When I was young, I used to go to the racecourse with my uncle – that’s where everything kicked in. I just fell in love with horses. I always wanted to do something with horses and be a jockey, because I was always small and light.”
Kevin started working with the retired Mauritian racehorses, doing trail rides on the beach. “I started there, helping out and got my basic experience – grooming and how to ride.”
After about 3 years in Mauritius, he moved to Ireland as a track rider and met Mershia. “Actually, that was the place I really learnt about horse racing. I was riding young horses, putting them through the gates, galloping them, all the basics.”
From there they moved to England and spent 2 years in Newmarket. “It was the experience of a lifetime,” he enthuses. He was got a job as a lad for Luca Cumani and speaks very highly of his boss. “I spent two years with him. He really wanted to help me to get an apprentice license, but because of the rules, I didn’t meet the criteria. But I started really getting in to it and wanted to get my license and race ride.”
Eventually, he found that New Zealand would be prepared to accept him as an apprentice. “When I emailed them for details, they said to me age doesn’t matter as long as I can be 50-52kgs on the scales. I was 52kgs at the time, so they said I can come!”
Kevin spent 6 and a half years in New Zealand’s South Island. He completed his apprenticeship, being named champion apprentice in the South Island for 2016. He then spent a year as a senior rider, accumulating 74 winners, including success at Listed level. And then the travel bug bit again.
“Because I’ve travelled to a few different countries, I felt I still wanted to keep going. The first trainer I worked for was Donna Logan (who saddled Habibi to victory in the 2013 Group 1 New Zealand Derby). She was training for some owners in China and contacted me about riding there, so I thought why not give it a try? So we went to China and spent 6 months there and really liked it.”
Kevin was based in Yulong for their stint. He explains, “Betting is not legalised, but the quality of horses you get to ride is awesome. Hong Kong is one of the best places to ride, but China has got a really great set up. The quality of the horses they have and the amount they spend on their horses is amazing.”
Kevin and Mershia moved to South Africa in December last year. “I really wanted to give it a try here. When I was still in Mauritius, I always followed the jockeys that came to ride from South African and of course all the horses are from South Africa. I’ve always wanted to try riding here and see what happens. So I contacted Gold Circle. They asked for my New Zealand license and I’ve been allowed to ride here for three months.”
The main hurdle proved getting medical cover, but finally everything came through and he was good to go.
He made his local debut for Doug Campbell and is thrilled to have got his foot in the door. “I know I have to work my way up, but I’m really grateful. I got a ride and we went around safe and that’s the main thing. I enjoyed the first day!”
“I just want to thank Mr Campbell very much for the support and for getting me on track as well as Brad McHardy for all his help in arranging my insurance and assisting me with booking rides. I also have to say a big thank you to my wife for all her support.
Kevin is a natural lightweight and goes to scale at 52kgs. Brad McHardy is assisting Kevin with riding engagements and can be contacted on 073 045 8101 for anyone interested in booking a ride.
