Mpumelelo Mjoka

I'm 26 years of age and from Durban and am called Mpumi by those who know me.

I attended the South African Jockey Academy which is located in Durban. Once graduating I went to one of the training centres which we have in our country and linked up with a Riding Master.

That would be the equivalent of signing on as an apprentice to a particular trainer which is how things are done in Ireland. At home most of the trainers are based at various training centres, rather than having their own yards, so as well as working for your Riding Master you have the opportunity to make contacts and ride work for other trainers.

Back in 2017 I was selected by my Riding Master at the time, Robert Moore , to represent South Africa in the Longines Rising Stars race at Chantilly in France. It was a memorable trip and all the better when I managed to win the race on a 100/1 chance. The French trainer advised me that my mount was a difficult ride and would be hard to settle, but I managed to get him switched off and he relaxed beautifully for me. I delayed my challenge as long as I dared and he picked up well to win by a length. I told the trainer he would win next time. He actually didn't reappear until the very same race the following year where he did the business under a female apprentice, so I was sort of right in what I said!

I've ridden more than 80 winners so I still have a few left with my 3lb claim. I have ridden winners for Mike de Kock and I was based with Jacques Strydom for some time. Jacques, whose brother is the legendary South African jockey Pierre 'Striker' Strydom, was a good mentor to me and his own son Kyle has just moved over to Newmarket and rode his first British winner earlier this week.

I've had some good times at home and have had success in a few Listed races and rode a winner on the HollywoodBets Durban July card last year which is one of the biggest days on the racing calendar. Injury intervened a couple of times but, touch wood, that is behind me now.

I'm in my second month in Ireland and am based in Kevin Coleman's yard near Carrick-on-Suir. Kevin was looking for work riders and jockeys and he got in touch with some of the trainers I have worked for at home. Kevin also spoke to Paddy Wynne, who was a very successful lightweight jockey in South Africa and now has a role as an apprentice liaison coach at the Jockey Academy. Kevin offered me the chance to come to Ireland on a two-year contract and told me what he was expecting from me and what he was looking for. He was very honest with me and I was delighted to grab the opportunity.

I love my job as a jockey and feel very lucky to work at something that I enjoy so much. Even though my career was going quite well at home, I moved over here because I wanted to learn new things, expand my horizons and experience horse-racing in another part of the world. I knew about Irish racing and breeding because in South Africa we would keep an eye on racing In Britain, Ireland, France and places like Hong Kong as well. I was well aware of the high standard of racing in Ireland and the success of Irish horses around the world.

I came over with my friend and fellow jockey Calvin Ngcobo who's also here in Kevin's yard. He's slightly older than me and has a few more winners on the board but can still claim 3lb as well. It's great to have him here with me and it keeps the homesickness at bay. I have a wife and young daughter at home so it was difficult to leave them but they knew it was a big chance for me. Calvin and I live together in an apartment in Carrick and we're in Kevin's yard pretty much every day, we usually get a Sunday off every second week. Kevin's father lent us a van so that we can get around from A to B.

Durban is on the Indian Ocean and I'm used to 30 degrees and sunshine so the wind and rain and the colder temperatures have been a bit of a shock to the system, but I'm enjoying the work in the yard. Myself and Calvin and Kevin do most of the riding out and then there are a couple of lads who take care of the ground work in the yard. Kevin is a cool guy and a trainer who has done well since getting his licence. We give him very honest feedback on how the horses feel in their work because that is crucial in how to move forward with them through the season. I know Kevin was a very good jump jockey and I'm looking forward to meeting his brother Aidan who is obviously so successful over the jumps in Britain.

We have some nice young horses in the yard and they're coming along steadily as we move into the season. The two-year-olds look like a nice bunch and we're excited to see how they get on once they start racing.

I was fortunate to make a dream start when Fleetfootsoldier won at Dundalk in mid-March. It was my first ride in Ireland and we had been happy with the horse's preparation. I'd been riding him in the mornings and his fitness was spot-on so we thought he would run well. I hit the front early in the straight which was soon enough but he gave me everything and we got home by a neck. I was thrilled to get off the mark in Ireland at the first attempt. The same horse returned to Dundalk the following week and was beaten a neck in second, so hopefully there is another day in him. Hopefully my buddy Calvin will get a winner on the board here as well in the near future.

I've had a few rides since at the likes of the Curragh, Naas and Navan. These are beautiful big galloping tracks. We don't have tracks with stiff uphill finishes like that back home, so it's something I have to get used to here and it's important to keep something back for the final climb. I'm looking forward to getting around the country during the summer and learning about how best to ride the different tracks that Ireland has to offer.

Fortunately the whip rules in Ireland are broadly similar to what we have back home although there is an emphasis here on allowing horses time to respond to a flick and giving them three strides between each use of the whip. We are allowed a double tap in the final 200 metres at home but obviously that doesn't apply in Ireland.

I'm a suitable stature to be a jockey and don't have any issues with weight. I can eat what I like and am getting used to the Irish cuisine which is nice but I must say I would have a preference for spicier dishes!

The jockeys in the weighroom have been very welcoming but obviously we're only getting to know each other.

I don't have an agent so will be riding mainly for Kevin for the time being, but I would love to get some outside rides and I know he would be happy if I did so because that would enable me to gain more experience. We'll see what happens but if I can ride a few more winners that will hopefully get me noticed and I might get more opportunities. It's a case of so far so good in Ireland and I'm looking forward to competing as the Flat season gets into full swing.