It’s not easy being a foreign jockey in Korea, not even at the traditionally more open Busan. Early runs on the board are essential and that’s exactly what JP Guillambert managed to achieve on his first weekend in the saddle on the South Coast.

The 34-year-old had five rides across the two days for five different trainers and Guillambert finished inside at least the minor money on four of them. The highlight though was his first victory which arrived on Sunday afternoon on the modestly-named Global Champion in race 2.

The three-year-old Cape Blanco colt had looked every inch the no-hoper in his early starts and even though he had been showing signs of figuring things out in his latest two, Global Champion was nevertheless sent off at odds in excess of 50/1.

Guillambert’s fellow British jockey Darryll Holland will probably want to forget the race as he looked set to make all on co-favourite Vega Khan. That was until the very final strides when Guillambert brought Global Champion unnoticed up the rail to steal victory by half a length on the line.

Victory may have been a tad fortunate but for Guillambert, who like Holland will have to overcome a riding weight of 54kg which will limit his opportunities, it’s a great start.

Guillambert is riding at Busan on an initial four-month license.