“IT’s definitely easier riding them than owning them,” said retired jockey Johnny Geroudis after leading in his first winner as an owner – Poormanslady (Muzi Yeni), a comfortable three-length success in a Maiden Plate over 1400m at the Vaal on Thursday.

“I was sweating like a pig and full of nerves before the race,” added Johnny, who won the Durban July on Teal in 1995 and has ridden winners around the world, including Singapore and Mauritius.

Mathew, Johnny and Gerald with Poormanslady.

“I only own a percentage share of Poormanslady along with Gerald Coleman, Mathew and Mike de Kock, but it felt like my own going down and I loved it when she came back winning so well. It was totally different, a feeling like no other. I’ve had racing pressure around the world, I’ve seen it all, ridden against the best, but going to the Vaal for this first winner was as special as anything!”

Johnny and the now retired Gerald Coleman, Mike’s longest-standing patron, drove to the Vaal together and Johnny said: “I won the Oaks for Gerald on Stormy Hill way back when and we beat his horse Barellen when Teal won the July, we go back many years so it was a privilege and an honour, a really top day for us all.”

Johnny, who took his first ownership share in Dreamuponadream, who was injured and retired, said Poormanslady was bought from the Adriaan van Vuuren dispersal for R50,000 – a bargain for anything by Kahal out of a Badger Land mare. He also has a share in three-year-old Balustrade, who has placed from two runs and can win soon, as well as a yearling bought from the recent National Sale.

Johnny’s wife Yanti is keeping a close eye on the horse budget because she knows that the bug has bitten and that if there is no control, she may soon be a “Poormanslady”.