Mauritian connection to play out in Sunshine State

By Jordan Gerrans

Journeyman jockey Kevin Bohorun is banking on the Mauritius connection to give him a positive start in his new venture in Queensland.

The 38-year-old has flirted with a move to the Sunshine State a few times in recent years but has finally made the call to set up camp on the Gold Coast with his family.

The Mauritian hoop has ridden in New Zealand, New Caledonia and Victoria over the last few years after originally establishing himself in Western Australia about 15 years ago.

Bohorun will link up with fellow Mauritius national Vishan Venkaya when he takes three rides on the Polytrack at the Gold Coast this Saturday.

As Venkaya is more than a decade older than Bohorun, they did not cross paths in the racing game back home on their island nation off Africa.

But, after finally meeting in person – following conversations over the phone in recent times – they have quickly become fast friends.

“Vishan has been really good to me,” Bohorun said.

“I have not known him long but it is like we have known each other for years the way we get on.

“He is really friendly and always there to help.

“Hopefully I can get a few rides and get my name out there.

“I did the same thing in Melbourne, just getting one or two rides and then hopefully build up from there as your name is out there more once you build up those connections with people.”

Bohorun will partner She'll Go Boom and Indented Head for his mate at Aquis Park on Saturday as well as picking up the engagement of Damiani for Greg Ryan in the Benchmark 68 Handicap.

“He is a very good friend of mine,” Venkaya said.

“He wants to get himself going in racing so I wanted to give him rides. He has ridden a few trials for me.”

Bohorun is best known in Australia for his stint in the west where he rode predominantly on the country and provincial circuit, as well as collecting seven city winners.

He has been riding work for Marcus Wilson and Gillian Heinrich since he lobbed at the Gold Coast in recent weeks. 

Bohorun’s former boss from WA Simon Foster is also based on the Glitter Strip these days.

“I thought about moving here about three years ago as my old master Simon is on the Gold Coast,” Bohorun said.

“I was apprenticed to Simon, the relationship between us has always been close – he is like my second father.

“He always looked after me. It was not the right time to do it back then but I met Vishan back then and became a good friend of his.

“These two have been big supporters of me about the move.”

Bohorun rode some work and in trials in the first few months of 2024 in Queensland and was keen to be competing in races but was waiting for his licence to be approved.

When it was delayed, he headed back to New Caledonia for a period of time but is now back settled in the Sunshine State.

Bohorun is looking forward to riding Venkaya’s gallopers on Saturday.

Indented Head looms as his best winning opportunity after the mare ran a promising second at Kilcoy two starts back.

“Vishan says she is going ok,” Bohorun said.