Gerrit Schlechter, who returned from a successful foray in Korea at the end of last month, expects to return there next week.

He said: “I actually meant to go back yesterday but I am still waiting for my visa to come through. This time I am only going on a three-month contract and I will be back in Cape Town in November.”

Schlechter, one of a select band to have ridden the winners of both the Vodacom Durban July and the J & B Met, proved a big hit in Korea and earned rave reviews in the local media.

He said: “Things went well and I rode 30 winners, including three big ones, in little more than three months but I found it all a real culture shock when I first arrived.

“The language was a big barrier, probably the biggest for most new arrivals.

“I was also approached to ride in Singapore where they are looking for lightweight jockeys but I want to be back in South Africa when the Cape season gets going.”

Schlechter’s other big race wins include the Cape Guineas, Cape Derby, Daily News, Cape Fillies Guineas and the Cape Flying Championship twice.