3 minute read

Win, lose or draw, Richard Lim the jockey used to jump off, give some feedback to the trainer before walking away - and worry about the next ride.

When the former Malaysian champion jockey's long wait for a trainer's licence was finally over at the end of last year, he was overwhelmed with joy and sheer relief, but he couldn't ignore that little voice telling him his life wouldn't be as cushy as a jockey's from now on.

As an assistant-trainer to Steven Burridge and Jason Lim in the last five years, Lim had already been thrust into that parallel world he was alien to prior to his retirement as a jockey due to increasing weight in 2015.

But being his own boss from 2022 will bring an even more Matrix-like change of his racing universe.

No doubt, his 16 years in the saddle – and he still rides work – gives him an edge, but he still had to learn the rudiments of training from scratch, and while the road ahead will let him know whether he's mastered it, one thing he's sure of is: His time with horses won't be the few minutes his bum makes contact with the saddle anymore, it's now 24/7.

"As a jockey last time, I would come back and report if the horse is good or no good, and I wouldn't really know the story behind," said the Penang-born but Ipoh-raised trainer, whose highest acclaim from his 262 winners as a jockey was receiving the trophy from Her Majesty herself after he won the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup aboard King And King in 2006.

"I can't do that anymore. Now, I need to know what to do if say the horse returns lame or didn't run up to expectations, and I then have to come up with a plan, and many times, Plan B and C.

"From being a jockey to being a trainer, it's totally different. You have to work on the ground and a lot of work goes into maintaining a horse's condition, and I'm not even talking about dealing with owners, which is so new to me.

"I have to thank Burridge for his guidance. I've picked up a lot of things and he gave me a lot of opportunities to learn."

With dieting probably the only thing Lim won't miss as a jockey, the 40-year-old is conscious life as a trainer won't be a bed of roses, but wearing that different hat has always been an ambition of his.

"I always wanted to become a trainer, especially after my weight caught up with me," he said.

"I did go back to riding (in 2012 after a hiatus through a riding ban), but it was too tough on my body and I thought it was time I switched my focus to training. It's been a long struggle to get this licence, so I'm quite relieved I finally got my chance this year.

"I have to thank the Singapore Turf Club and the Malayan Racing Association for giving me a chance to prove myself.

"Everyone has had a hard time going through that pandemic, and it's a challenge for me to start during that time, but I hope racing will pick up again."

Lim has been too busy getting ready to move into his new digs (eventually to be at the late Laurie Laxon's former block at 101A) to worry about the current state of affairs in racing or the world for now, but already has his sights set on his first major assignment at hand.

Like any newly-minted trainer about to see his name printed on a racebook for the first time, Lim would love nothing less than a fairytale start at his baptism of fire, which he expects will take place next Saturday week on January 15.

"I temporarily move to 'The Village' (non-air-conditioned block) tomorrow and move to Laurie Laxon's old barn in April as it's now undergoing renovation. I will start with 15 horses, 13 from Jason and two from Ah Young (Young Keah Yong) – My Dreamliner and Crown Dancing," said Lim who is kicking off with one syce and two track riders from Lim, as well as new stable staff.

"I should be able to enter my first runners next week. Songgong Hera will run in the Class 3 race over 1200m, and if there's one horse whom I think can give me a dream start, it'd be him.

"Like all the other horses, Songgong Hera (two-time winner by Spirit Of Boom, and currently his highest-rated horse on 77 points) has obviously been in work all the while and following a programme under Jason. So their prep was never interrupted, and he will come in fit and ready for his first race for me.

"I'm hoping to book Jerome Tan's apprentice (Akmazani Mazuki) on him, but it'll depend if he's available. I won't have a stable jockey for a start, and will book whoever is available, but I'll be using Iskandar Rosman a fair bit.

"I'm looking at running Metal World, Gentlemen Agreement and Vgor, and maybe Magnifique, as well next week, but let's wait and see who gets in at the ballot.

"With the help of existing owners like Mr LH Law and new owners coming on board I'm also planning to get 10 new horses in this season. I have a good mix of local, Malaysian and Hong Kong owners.

"I've waited for this day for a long time, and now, it's up to me to prove myself."