Globetrotting Sweeney relishing Asian adventure before Kranji debut

Group 1-winning jockey Fergus Sweeney, who made South Korea his new home in the spring, takes the next step on his world tour with his first rides in Singapore on Sunday.

Sweeney, who enjoyed his biggest victory on Twilight Son in the 2015 Sprint Cup at Haydock, saw his winners and rides in Britain drop last season, so decided it was time for a change.

A winter spell in India encouraged the 40-year-old to shake things up and he has relished his spell in South Korea, partnering 11 winners from 58 rides.

He caught the eye of leading trainer Kim Young Kwan, who has booked him for Gakbyeolhan in the S$250,000 (£140,000/€157,000) highlight of Kranji's nine-race card on Sunday, which is sponsored by the Korea Racing Authority.

Watch Sweeney win the Sprint Cup on Twilight Son

"The main reason I've been travelling lately is because it got a little stale for me back home," said the globetrotting Sweeney, who last rode in Britain at Bath in March.

"We race seven days a week in the UK, you have to jump in your car and travel to different racecourses. It was getting too much.

"Initially, it was just the Sunday trip to Switzerland, which is not too far, then I got invited to a couple of international meetings in South Africa, Czech Republic, and Barbados, where I rode a winner.

"That opened up my horizon and last winter I went to India and really enjoyed it. Then came the Korean opportunity. They race two days a week there, it's great."

Sweeney after winning the 2015 Sprint Cup at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Sweeney, who has three other rides on his Singapore debut, added: "The prize-money is very good and the horses are of a good standard. It's also well organised and well run.

"The only thing is weight is a big restriction for me there. I ride at 54kg and the weight scale is quite low, so I miss out a fair bit."

A son of Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero Big Brown, Gakbyeolhan won over a mile and a quarter at Busan last month but drops back to six furlongs on Sunday.

"I've been riding for Mr Kim lately, and that led to the offer to ride," explained Sweeney, whose most prolific campaign in Britain came in 2009, when he rode 64 winners.

"I know very little about the horse other than he did very well as a two and three-year-old at six furlongs.

"He's always shown good form over that distance, but he's since been running over further and has been doing very well too."

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