Saimee for invitation races in Korea 

SINGAPORE,  6 May 2005

Saimee Jumaat, twice MRA champion jockey and four-time top jockey in Singapore in consecutive years from 1998, is among five international jockeys who will take part in the Inaugural International Jockey Invitation Series to be held at Seoul Racecourse on May 21 and 22.

As part of the 30th Asian Racing Conference to be held in Korea, between May 20-27 and hosted by the Korean Racing Association, the International Jockey Series will also represent the first occasion any overseas jockey has ridden in Korea.

The other invited jockeys for this historic event are Glyn Schofield representing Hong Kong, Nakadate Eiji from Japan, Michael Cahill from Australia, Larry Cassidy from New Zealand.

The five international jockeys will pit their skills against the five top ranked Korean jockeys in three Invitation Races. Not only will riders be vying for major prize money on both days of racing, but the top three placed jockeys in the Invitation Races, decided on a points basis, will be competing for awards and cash prizes of US$20,000 for the first, US$10,000 for the second & US$5,000 for the third.

The five Korean jockeys who will take part are:

Park Tae-Jong: Currently second ranked with 1,079 wins since 1987. Major wins included 1995 Grand Prix (Korea G1) and 2003 Korean Derby (Korea G1).
Kim Hyo-Seob: Leading jockey this year with 637 career wins since 1987. Major wins include 2004 Korean Derby (Korea G1).
Cho Kyoung-Ho: Third leading jockey this year with 130 wins since 2001. Major wins include 2003 Grand Prix (Korea G1).
Chun Chang-Ki: Fourth leading jockey in 2005 with 483 career wins since 1987. Major wins include 2004 The President Cup (Korea G1).
Shin Hyoung-Chul: Sixth in table this year with 396 career wins from 1988. Major wins include 1996 KRA President Cup (Korea G3).

The draw for jockey’s mounts and barriers for the International Jockey Invitation Races will be held on May 19 in the KRA Auditorium at Seoul Racecourse, commencing at 11:30am. A Press Conference, followed by a welcoming dinner, will be held later that evening at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel at 6pm. Following the completion of the race meeting on May 22, a farewell dinner will be held also at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel at 7pm.