The Mauritius Turf Club's annual racing extravaganza, the Air Mauritius - Attitude International Jockeys Weekend 2016, had the entire island excited and people throng the Champ de Mars racecourse for the grand finale of the Mauritius racing season which runs through March to December each year. The race track is a little over 1200 meters - winning post to winning post, with a sharp homestretch of around a furlong and quarter. Needless to say, the positioning for the final run is crucial, as one has to take off straight away on rounding the curve.

Thirteen International jockeys took part in the two-day event and with seven races slated for each day. On the second day, one race was marked exclusively for women jockeys. This year, India was represented by jockey PS Chouhan. Jockeys from Australia, France, Ireland, Spain and other countries including two local lads made up for a talented lineup. The opening ceremony had the jockeys walk out of the weighing room in a line and the first to step out was PS Chouhan amidst loud cheers from a sizable crowd. Each jockey was then introduced and the jockey would walk closer to the crowd and fling his cap towards the stands and a lucky few returned home with a personal souvenir. The introduction ended, a chorus of local singers rendered the National Anthem of Mauritius, people from the stands joined in singing loudly as well. Though brief, the opening ceremony was befitting a big and popular event.

The Mauritius Turf Club had geared up thoroughly to host the mammoth crowd. The local police and security staffers did well to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and the entrants. The stands were packed to capacity and placing a bet in itself was tricky. Fortunately the tote windows and bookmaker stalls were large in number so the bettors were spoiled for choice. The people of Mauritius love their racing and this was showcased by the passion with which they cheered the winners no matter who, as the jockeys waved their respective national flags at the lead-in. 

Twenty seven year old French jockey Maxime Guyon was the reigning champion having won the 2015 edition of the racing event and was one of the favourites to win the Air Mauritius - Attitude International Jockeys Weekend 2016. Guyon began with a sedate start on day one with a solitary win from four mounts, partnering Emaar, trained by S Jones over 1650 meters to win comfortably. He was second turning for home and got going in the final furlong to romp home by a couple of lengths.

The final day brought the best out of Guyon and with the crowd firmly behind him, he rode as if possessed, booting home three winners to clinch the championship. Guyon aggregated 44 points, finishing well ahead of Aussie jockey James Winks (26) with PS Chouhan finishing third with a tally of 23 points.

Guyon started his second day's engagements with a solid win atop trainer R Maingard's Duke the Duke over the mile. Sitting handy in a close third position, Guyon took the turn a tad too wide but rode out Duke the Duke strongly to finish off well and win by about two lengths.

Guyon's best perhaps came in his next win astride the Gujadhur trained Paladin when he got the extra bit out of the horse in a fighting finish. Jockey PS Chouhan-ridden Burg found himself on the outside and had to take the turn wider than he might have liked. Chouhan got Burg to quicken and surged into the lead with less than a furlong to go. He seemed going well and even shaped like a winner until Guyon, set alight Paladin in the last fifty. Paladin produced a scorching finish and managed to claw his way back and peg back Burg to win with a narrow margin.

Guyon sealed the championship with a win in the last race piloting Sunset Breeze to another hard fought win. Var's Dream had the upper hand coming into the straight, with Sunset Breeze close behind. Chouhan ridden Billy Bojangles was warming up and improving positions. Guyon had to swerve slightly to avoid a drifting Var's Angel and he got trainer A Perdrau's ward quicken for home to surge ahead of Var's Dream close home. Chouhan ended a close third.

Jockey Pradeep Chouhan got a rousing welcome as he waved the Indian tri-colour returning victorious with his mount Sir Earl Grey for trainer Patrick Merven, claiming the Ravenala Attitude Cup a race over 1500 meters. Chouhan racing up with the pace, shot into the lead soon on turning for home and rode out aggressively to win drawing away. Trainer Merven was ecstatic and was animated all the way to the lead-in punching his fists in delight. He was kind enough to invite me to the lead-in as well, something I have not been fortunate to ever do. I savoured every moment of the triumph and felt equally proud to be part of an International event won by an Indian jockey. Chouhan too was extremely happy as it was his first success on an international stage. The crowd screamed in delight as he raised the Indian National Flag waving furiously all the way to the unsaddling enclosure.

"It was a magical moment and I was thrilled to have made my mark here. I must thank trainer Patrick Merven, his charge Sir Earl Grey indeed was in top condition. I knew I had a winner the moment we turned for home and I just had to guide Sir Earl Grey, he did the rest. I am taking back home very fond memories and such moments are embedded in mind to cherish for life. I thank the Mauritius Turf Club, Air Mauritius and Mr Naresh Gujadhur for their kind gesture and courtesies extended to me. I also thank the racing public for their strong support and their encouraging words when I went win-less on the first day. I was determined to make an impact for the racing people in Mauritius and also for our own racing fraternity back home in India. It is not easy with the world-wide riding talent to compete against. Every single jockey here is highly motivated to score, so a victory here is exceptionally rewarding as it is satisfying. I congratulate jockey Guyon for showcasing his riding talent and winning the championship. I take back with me a wonderful experience and a few new friendships that i have made over the past three days. I would certainly wish to return to Mauritius, it is a beautiful country and the people here are most forthcoming and friendly. I congratulate the Mauritius Turf Club and their associates, Air Mauritius, Attitude for the wonderful manner in which they conducted such a big event. I am grateful for their generous hospitality and wish the Mauritius Turf Club and Air Mauritius the very best," said Pradeep Chouhan.

The Mauritius - Longines World Fegentri Championship for Lady Riders Trophy had a line up of nine horses. Mr Oshkosh, from trainer C Ramdin's yard, was ridden to a famous win by lady rider L Le Geay. She was not in the best of positions and also had to skirt wide at the sharp turn. Geay gathered the reins and rode her heart out racing at the center of the track. She fought out with Lividus in the final 100 and got Mr Oshkosh to finish powerfully to win by a length.

From the moment I landed at Mauritius, to the time I was seen off at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport Mauritius, I enjoyed the care and courtesies of the Mauritius Turf Club. The Champ de Mars race track at the foot of scenic range of hills with the Port Louis Mokarange Mountains as a back drop. The shape of a thumb at the top of the range makes it truly picturesque. It is a turf track with rising ground towards the winning post. The shorter straight makes it highly competitive homestretch which is testing for both the horse and the rider. The track surrounds a huge area and there is another place for crowds to bet and watch racing. The area in the middle also serves as a massive car park.

The general publicenjoy an array of food stalls and a good range of beverages on offer. The private boxes are traditional with air-conditioned and well stocked bar and snack counter in each. The Members' lounge and the jockey club box are most comfortable with a good view of the course. As an invitee of the Mauritius I had the privilege to access these areas and the club was extremely generous in extending every facility one could imagine.

Mr Naresh Gujadhur, a familiar face in India especially at the RWITC, is a generous host and was extra-caring throughout my stay. His passion for racing and to constantly improve racing in particular is astonishing. We are aware of his eye for details and his personal indulgence during the running of the Mauritius Turf Club and Tourism Trophy along with the Rajkoomar Gujadhur Trophy at the Mamlaxmi racecourse in Mumbai. His energy is flowing and he is a motivator to get things done. The Mauritius Turf Club is rich in terms of having people who are efficient, empathetic and passionately loyal to work for the Club. The success of the Air Mauritius - Attitude International jockeys Weekend 2016 is testimony to the organizing skills of the Club's work-force and the dedication each entity applies is noteworthy.

Mr Alain Noel, President of the Mauritius Turf Club is a gracious gentleman who played a perfect host, personally ensuring that everything went off smoothly. Mr Donald Payen representing Air Mauritius, which is a long standing partner with the Mauritius Turf Club, is sincerely involved in promoting the sport and sets goals to achieve more in terms of popularity and quality of racing events and tourism. Mr Kevin Ramkaloan, Director, Mauritius Tourism is another personality who takes pride in offering Mauritius as an attractive tourist destination. "We want people from all over the world to visit Mauritius and enjoy a good holiday. Mauritius is a great option with beautiful beaches and friendly weather. There are a huge variety of hotels and beach-resorts to plan a wonderful vacation round the year. We are doing everything possible to make it one of the sought-after destinations for tourists and we are gaining in numbers with each passing year," said Mr Kevin who also takes keen interests in racing.

The closing ceremony was marked with performances from fashion shows, song and dance and an enthralling fire-spewing boys. In a special ceremony, French horseman maxime Goyon was presented with a gold studded whip as the trophy for the championship. Ms Le Geay also received the award for the top lady jockey and both champions posed for the photo-ops for the large number of photographers and for the print and electronic media.

A wonderful event had come to an end. it was fiercely competitive but the camaraderie was conspicuous. The crowd certainly enjoyed the racing weekend and both days saw a sell out.

"Racing is very popular in Mauritius," said Mr Naresh Gujadhur. I want the Indian breeders and owners to come and visit here and I am sure they will be keen to send their horses to race here. I want to get a good number of horses from India and I hope this year I find those who would venture to send horses to Mauritius. At present majority of the horses come from South Africa. It would be more competitive if good Indian horses raced here. It is a workable proposition and I will do all I can to convince the Indian racing personalities to give it a shot. Hopefully I will succeed during my next visit to India," Mr Naresh Gujadhur concluded.

Mauritius is a country that is blessed by nature. Wonderful beaches, lovely hotels and a friendly populace. The traffic there is absolutely disciplined and systematic. Drivers are responsible and drive with graceful driving etiquette. Although I had to travel for over an hour from the airport to my hotel - the Sensimar Lagoon Beach Resort, the drive was smooth and peaceful, not a single horn blaring all the way. I am certainly glad that I had the good fortune for this chance visit and would encourage anyone who likes to travel to visit this heavenly location. I for one, thank heavens for a wonderfully enjoyable weekend of top quality racing, tranquil sea and seeing the Indian Flag fluttering at the Champ de Mars racecourse!