Senior jockey Daniel Moor will escape the Victorian cold and enjoy the winter competing in Mauritius, reports racing.com.

The 30-year-old heads off for his stint at the island on Sunday night, where he’ll be stable rider for trainer Shirish Narang.

After knocking back a couple of opportunities to ride there previously, Moor reckons this is the right moment to head over.

“It falls at a good time in my life,” he said. “My wife is on maternity leave at the moment so she can come and join us and Jack, my eldest, doesn’t start school until next year.

“It’s a good opportunity because I miss the winter months here when the apprentices tend to get the best go and escape the weather, get a bit of experience and have a bit of a break from the grind here.”

Races in Mauritius are held once a week, on a Saturday, and Moor will be required to ride trackwork four or five days a week.

“Obviously I’m taking it very seriously but it’s a working holiday as such because it’s a change and it’s not a seven-day-a week grind as it is here,” Moor said.

“I tend to ride better and work better when I’m in a really set routine but in saying that you run the risk of being burnt out.”

 

Apparently the punters love their racing in Mauritius and Moor can’t wait to experience the unique environment.

“I was speaking to jockeys who have been there before - Luke Currie and Noel Callow - they said it’s like Melbourne Cup day every day,” Moor said.

“The crowds flood the infield and the grandstands so the atmosphere is pretty amazing and they take their racing pretty seriously.”

Moor will keep riding in Victoria up until Sunday’s Pakenham Cup meeting at Racing.com Park before jumping on a flight that evening.

There won’t be much of a break for the hoop, who plans on hitting the ground running and riding in jumpouts on Tuesday morning.

“(Shirish Narang) is a new trainer that’s just taken over a lot of horses and is training for some good owners over there, so he’ll be expecting results pretty much straight away and I’m in the same boat considering I’m leaving some pretty good opportunities here,” Moor said.

“I’m appreciative of all the trainers’ support I’ve had here and I’m looking forward to coming back freshened up.”