Group One winner moves to South Australia

South Australia is the new home of Group One-winning rider Ashvin Goindasamy, who has made the shift south from Queensland after a six-month stint. 

Originally from Mauritius, Goindasamy started his apprenticeship and won eight Stakes races in New Zealand, the highlight being the 2021 Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall’s Tiptronic (NZ) (O'Reilly).

He was based on the Gold Coast when first coming across the ditch, but with city opportunities tough to come by there, Goindasamy is trying his luck further south.

“I’ve come over for a couple of weeks to try and make some new contacts, and it’s been great so far,” he said.

“I was riding in New Zealand for probably eight years; I started my apprenticeship and had my first race ride when I was 20, I’ve always had in the back of my mind to come to Australia and ride.

“I was at the Gold Coast from August last year, and it was good, I met some nice people over there and worked with some great people.

“But it was very hard, when the carnival was coming up, to really get the ground going.”

Goindasamy opened his South Australian account at just the second time of asking, giving Andrew Clarken’s Crown And Anchor (Fiorente) a beautiful steer in the 1800m 0-54 at Clare last Friday.

The 27-year-old will have a short freshen-up in Bali after his first Morphettville ride on Saturday, aboard Karn Byrnes’ Startide, but is keen to make his presence felt upon returning.

“When I come back, I’ll be hungry for more winners,” he said.