Kazakh jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev has retained his title as champion jockey in Germany, and has now left for a three-month stint in Japan. Bauyrzhan spent seasons 2012 to 2016 in the Czech Republic, rapidly establishing himself as our best jockey. He won our flat jockeys’ championship four times in a row, after Václav Janáček left and established himself as multiple champion jockey in Spain. Bauyrzhan was introduced into Czech horseracing by trainer Arslangirej Šavujev, has trained horses with great distinction, first in Slovakia and then in the Czech Republic, for the last thirty years, mainly for Kazakh and Russian owners.

Czech racing is very proud of its association with Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, and we claim him as one of our own. He learned Czech very well, and Czech owners and trainers straightaway recognized his talent and appreciated his modesty and ability, and above all his ability to ride winners.

When he went to Germany in 2017, he again established himself as a leading jockey very quickly. Nevertheless, he came when possible to ride in the Czech Republic. He has twice won the European Jockeys’ Cup competition at Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse. Nowadays, however, as champion jockey in Germany, he has established himself as an elite international star. One of his regrets, and ours, is that he has not been able to ride here at all in 2022.

Bauyrzhan arrived in Japan early in December. However, just before his departure, Dostihový svět editor Petr Guth managed to have a few words with him   

Murzabajev: I congratulate Jiřina on winning the championship

Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, former Czech champion jockey and current champion jockey in Germany, has begun his stint in Japan by finishing ninth in the Japan Cup, and the popular jockey returned there on December 11. Until March 7th, on a temporary licence, he will be trying to add further triumphs to his rich and successful career. Before leaving for Japan, Murzabayev answered a few questions for us.

        Has 2022 been the best year so far in your career? Is that how it can be rated?

Yes, certainly. I’ve defended my title, and I also won the Germany Derby. That’s a double that every jockey wants to achieve. I’m very happy about succeeding in this year’s German Derby. For me it’s also been a year in which I won two Group 1 races, and that’s also something that counts for a lot.

        There have also been some interesting things for you away from the German racecourses in 2022!

That’s true. Quite a few of them. Two big moments in the autumn were particularly memorable, though. Riding in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for André Fabre was a great moment, and then, of course, taking part in the Japan Cup.  Japan makes a big impression. Horseracing there is a completely different world, and on a different level than in Europe.

        With your great workload abroad, are you still able to follow Czech racing?  And what impressed you about our racing this year?

I don’t manage to follow it that much, but I try to stay in contact. Of course, I watched the Czech Derby, and I think that Petr Foret won the race deservedly. Apart from that, I can’t find a lot of time for Czech racing. I see when Radek Koplík is riding somewhere, but that’s about it.  Of course, the result of this year’s jockeys’ championship is interesting, and I have to congratulate Jiřina on winning it. [In 2022, Jiřina Andrésová was the first woman ever to win the Czech champion jockey’s title http://www.dostihovy-svet.cz/en/node/10488].