TURKISH apprentice jockey Bulent Muhcu’s acceptance speech and that of his master Brendan McShane almost brought tears to the eye at last Friday night’s annual awards night presentation dinner at Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart.
Muhcu’s master read an email he had received from Muhcu’s sister and it became clear that while he was working hard to make a name for himself in the racing industry he also was doing it to help his family back home in Turkey.
As McShane read a heartfelt message that was sent to Muhcu that explained how much his family appreciated his efforts as how the talented young rider sacrificed everything at a very young age to carve a career in the saddle.
Muhcu shares his success as a jockey with his family both monetarily and emotionally.
“Family is very important to me but I was taken by surprise a bit when Brendan (McShane) read the message from my family to everyone on Friday night,” Muhcu said.
“My story is not much different from any other Turkish rider who are trying to carve a career in Australia,” he said.
The talented young horseman traveled far and wide in search of a place to realise his dream.
Muhcu was a wet-behind-the-ears 14-year-old when he signed on at the Turkish Apprentice School where he spent five days a week being tutored in equine husbandry as well as being taught the basic skills of riding.
Eight months into his tenure at the riding academy he was one of a fortunate group of riders who sere selected to travel to Australia to attend the former Queensland International Riding Academy that has recently been remodeled and now offers a three-month global internship program for credentialed young riders, primarily from Asia.
“I was at the Queensland school for a year and it was good because it was there that I learned to love horses,” he said.
He returned to Turkey and after completing another three months of his Turkish apprenticeship he was allowed to ride in races but that never eventuated in his home country.
“I never got to ride in my own country because there are more riders than horses in Turkey,” he said.
He rode and worked in the USA before making his move to Tasmania.