3 minute read
In between two rides at the Friday meetings at Fairview, jockey Ryan Munger would often watch the ‘live’ overseas races on TV and dream of the day he’d be riding at that distant but vibrant and enticing track - Kranji.
The young South African rider from Durban is still pinching himself today. In November, the 24-year-old was given the nod by the Singapore Turf Club for a one-year licence in 2020.
For someone who has only one apprentice jockeys' challenge in Abu Dhabi back in 2014 as his international resume, the gateway to the world has finally well and truly opened.
The nephew to Durban July-winning jockey Stuart Randolph had always wanted to see the world and experience other racing jurisdictions, but first, he had to make a name for himself in his own backyard.
That he has done in a meteoric rise that saw the South African Jockey Academy graduate clock in close to 600 winners in seven years of race-riding, including four at Grade 3 level (the first being the Caradoc Gold Cup with Ilitshe at Turffontein in 2017) and notching the Zimbabwe champion jockey title in 2017-2018.
Rightly regarded as one of his country's rising stars, Munger, who finished eighth on the national log on 127 winners last season, has not taken long to catch the eye of Singapore racing talent scouts.
As he gets ready to celebrate his last Christmas at home before embarking on this new exciting adventure with his wife Kelsey, Munger can't wait to open his new "present".
"At Fairview on Fridays, they show the Singapore night meetings on TV. I would always be watching," said Munger, who is currently still at his Johannesburg base and only waiting for his work permit to be approved before he packs his bags.
"It's always been a dream of mine to ride overseas and Singapore was up there among the countries on my list.
"I've spoken to a few jockeys who've ridden there and they all have different opinions. I spoke to Callan Murray and Johnny Geroudis, who rode there for many years and told me a lot about the place.
"Ricardo Le Grange also gave me a few tips. For a start, Ricardo will be giving me rides but it'd also be nice to get to know new trainers and new connections.
"Going overseas is a nice experience and a nice way for me to improve as a rider, but it's also a good opportunity to know new people and a new culture."
Munger said while he had a fair idea what to expect, there was no better way to get the lie of the land than being there on the spot.
"It's hard to compare with our tracks as I'm not there yet. Our tracks are fairly similar but they have longer straights," he said.
"The closest Kranji would come to would probably be Fairview because of the Polytrack, or Kimberley. Anyway, having already ridden on Polytrack will certainly help."
Currently ninth on the South African national log on 42 winners, Munger is happy with his season thus far, but has no qualms about leaving halfway.
"It's been four months into the new season, and so far so good," he said.
"I'm again in the Top 10, and things are going well, still the same, I would say. I rode Green Haze for Alec Laird in the Grade 1 Summer Cup on November 30, and even if he never ran in the money (seventh to Zillzaal), he was beaten only two lengths.
"But this chance to ride overseas has come up and there was no way I wouldn't have gone for it. South Africa is home and will always be available.
"It's the same story but different day back home, whereas international experience will take me out of my comfort zone.
"I will get to meet top riders and top trainers from around the world. I'd rather look back, knowing that I was given the opportunity and I took it, instead of not taking a chance.
"This is hopefully a stepping stone to other countries like Hong Kong, Europe, UK, the world is my oyster, but Singapore for the next 12 months is my priority for now."
Munger is alongside Macau-based Brazilian jockey Ruan Maia, the two new additions to the riding ranks in the new 2020 season, bringing the number of expat jockeys to 11.
While Maia has already had a taste of the Kranji action with several pitstop visits since 2018, even winning the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy with Circuit Land at his first ride that year, Munger will be the complete newbie. He aims to kick off his stint on New Year Cup day on January 1.