After spending the past three years in Malaysia, apprentice jockey Clyde Leck decided it was time he came home to ride in Singapore.
Besides the fact that he is the son of ex-Singapore trainer Charles Leck, who once dominated the local racing scene with three champion trainer titles (1998, 1999 and 2003) and currently enjoys a successful training career in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since 2016, the 24-year-old Singaporean also quickly caught the attention of racegoers a year after his debut in 2021.
Under the tutelage of his father, Leck topped the log with 72 wins by the end of the 2022 season and he was crowned both the champion jockey and champion apprentice jockey in Malaysia.
Not long after pulling off the rare feat, Leck found himself in talks with trainer David Kok, who worked as a stable supervisor and assistant-trainer to Leck Snr last time, about coming to Singapore to ride before he was granted a six-month licence till December 31.
“David and I discussed about me coming to ride in Singapore after I won the championship titles in Malaysia. He helped me with the application early this year,” said the young rider, who has clocked in 93 wins thus far.
“I got an email from (senior stipendiary steward) Scott Kelly in June to ask if I was still interested in coming here.
“I thought of going to Australia to ride but the main reason I decided to come back here was to ride in my own country before it (Singapore Turf Club) closes.
“My dad also encouraged me to come back because this is my home and I’d love to experience racing here.
“Besides the two of us who work and live in Malaysia, the rest of my family (mother, older brother Cleon and younger brother Cliff) stay in Marine Parade.
“The other thing is that Malaysia doesn’t have Polytrack so I want to take the chance to gain racing experience on the Polytrack here.
“I started riding trackwork yesterday morning and trialled two horses (City Gold Galaxy and Trusted One) on it. It felt very different than on the turf.
“You think about it, if I choose to stick to this career, I can never be home in a way. I will have to be based elsewhere in the world. I won’t get the chance to ride in Singapore again after next year (Singapore racing cease to exist after October 2024).
“So, if I can stay here next year and ride till the end, why not?”
To be fair, Leck did ride on the Polytrack at Kranji previously when he was working as a trackrider for Kok for a short period of time before enlisting for two years of National Service in 2017.
Riding as a full-time job did not cross his mind, but the thought of mundane nine-to-five office jobs bored him and a “leg-up” on horses at his father’s stable finally led him down the jockey’s path.
“I never really thought of becoming a jockey, even though my dad brought me to his stables here at Kranji to look at horses before when I was very young,” said the St Patrick’s School graduate.
“I did okay in my first year of financial business informatics at Temasek Polytechnic, but I wasn’t interested. I tried looking at other courses but after a while, I realised I can’t see myself working a nine-to-five job.
“After I dropped out of Poly(technic) and was waiting for enlistment (to the army), I rode trackwork for David for about eight months.
“I was also quite light then, weighing about 50kgs. My dad told me to go over to work for him in Malaysia first and see if I liked it.
“When I had my term breaks in school, I would go up to Malaysia to learn riding at the Selangor Turf Club’s Equestrian and Sports Centre and ride trackwork for my dad.
“After two years in National Service, I got serious about racing and moved to Malaysia to kick-start my career.
“My dad, two brothers, (cousin and assistant-trainer to Kok) Joseph Leck and I would ride in trackwork together, though it was more leisure riding for my brothers as they’re not interested in racing.
“But after I started working there, I knew it. I wanted to become a jockey. I saw the opportunities as my dad is a trainer and he has many horses, so he can groom me.”
Leck, who was indentured to his father and based mainly in Kuala Lumpur, took 10 rides at his last meeting in Penang, Malaysia on Sunday when he rode three winners for his father, including his first Group 1 win atop Berry Bliss in the Group 1 Penang Sprint Trophy (1400m) for good measure.
Seven days later, the one-kilo claimer is booked on seven rides for his first meeting across the Causeway, albeit none in the highlight race, the $110,000 Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m).
He will ride City Gold Galaxy for his master trainer Kok, Sacred Icon and Sacred Gold for trainer Jerome Tan, May for trainer Donna Logan, Last Samurai and Winning Spirit for trainer Kuah Cheng Tee and Sayonara for trainer Ricardo Le Grange.
While Leck looked forward to his rides, he preferred not to stress himself out over getting his first win in Singapore.
“I informed the Club that my indenture (to Kok) will start on Aug 1 because I was committed to riding Berry Bliss in that Group 1 race on July 30,” said Leck, who has 14 wins this year.
“That was my first Group 1 win, although I also won a few other listed races in Malaysia. I thought he (Berry Bliss) stood a chance and I’m glad I won for dad.
“After the races in Penang on Sunday, I went back to Kuala Lumpur and drove to Singapore on Monday morning with Cliff, who was with me at the Penang meeting. I also had to move most of my stuff back since I’m based here now.
“David brought me around to introduce myself to the trainers on Tuesday. Of my seven rides on Sunday, I think May (in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m) is a decent horse and Sayonara (in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1800m) came fourth at his last start, so he’s not bad.
“Winners will come eventually, so I will try to get more rides first. Doesn’t matter if I can win or not, I’m just happy to have rides for now.
“This is a new experience for me, so I need to get used to the track first, but I will also do my best and improve on my riding skills.”
By Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
