Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, a four-time champion jockey in Germany, will become the retained rider for French trainer Andre Fabre, according to published reports.
Murzabayev, who formerly rode for Peter Schiergen, will have first call on all of Fabre's horses barring those of Godolphin and Wertheimer et Frere, as they have their own retained jockeys.
“For me, this is the next step,” Bauyrzhan Murzabayev told Galopp Online. “Last year, when Francis-Henri Graffard's offer came, I stayed. I know what I owe to Peter Schiergen. We were a very good team and I know that it will be different in France now. But I'm a competitive athlete, my time is short and it's a huge opportunity to develop myself. I would like to thank Peter and Gisela Schiergen for an extraordinary cooperation. They were like family to me and the decision to switch is hard for me.”
Schiergen has replaced Murzabayev with Rene Piechulek as his first call jockey, however Piechulek will also retain his engagement with Hans-Gerd Wernicke's Stall Salzburg, the owner of Group 1 winner Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Sibylle Vogt will remain the second call jockey for Schiergen.
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