Four times champion jockey in Germany and three times in the Czech Republic, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev was recently called up to ride as first jockey for André Fabre and will have first pick of the horses outside of the Wertheimer and Godolphin operations.

Born in 1992, in a country where the horse is king, Murzabayev has looked to the west since his childhood, during which time he distinguished himself both with his skill as a horseman and for his desire to become a jockey.

The young Kazakhstani enjoyed his first success aged 15, and in 2012 was making a name for himself in the west. From his first year in Europe, the Czech press was hailing the talent of the young Central-Asian. A year on and he was crowned champion jockey, a title he was to hold until leaving for Germany in 2016. He took his first steps onto French soil in 2014, riding for Vaclav Luka at Strasbourg and Lyon-La Soie.

For Andreas Wöhler, Murzabayev brought considerable success, winning his first Listed and Group races in 2017, and secured the jockey’s title two years later. Five seasons on, and he was recruited by former star jockey turned leading trainer, Peter Schiergen, for whom he won a first classic. Since Sammarco in the German Derby, Murzabayev can add Tunnes (Grosser-Preis von Bayern) and Dura Erede (Hopeful Stakes) in Japan, to his Gr.1 tally.

Coming in the wake of Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery, Jerry Bailey and Cash Asmussen, among others, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev has big boots to fill, but he got off to a very good start for his new guv’nor, and opened a new exciting chapter to his riding career.