France: Four-time German champion jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev has landed one of the most coveted riding positions in Europe with news that he will ride as stable jockey to Andre Fabre in 2023.
According to GaloppOnline, the 30-year-old Kazakh will ride as first jockey to the Chantilly-based legend, partnering all Fabre’s horses apart from those owned by Godolphin and the Wertheimer brothers, who have their own retained riders.
Murzabayev, who was born in the Kazakh city of Almaty, moves to France after two years employed by leading German trainer Peter Schiergen.
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“We were a very good team and I know things will be different in France now,” said Murzabayev, speaking to GaloppOnline. “But I'm a competitive athlete – my time is short and it's a huge opportunity to develop myself further.
“I thank Peter and Gisela Schiergen for an extraordinary collaboration. They were like family to me and the decision to leave is a difficult one for me but for me, this is the next step.”
From a racing background in his native country, Murzabayev took out his first licence at home in 2007 before moving to the Czech Republic and then onto Germany, where he has been the dominant rider for the last four seasons. He rode for Andreas Wohler for three seasons before joining Cologne-based Schiergen, for whom he won his first German Derby in 2022 aboard Sammarco.
Known as ‘Borschan’ to his fans, he won his fourth successive German title last term with 96 winners before a successful stint in Japan over the winter, where he landed a shock 90-1 success on Sura Erede in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama.
Champion trainer Schiergen commented: "It was clear to us that Bauyrzhan would move on at some point. He's not only a great person, he's also one of the best jockeys in the world and that's how he earned this opportunity. I was hoping he would stay another year but I was a jockey too so I can understand him.”
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