Mar 20, 2025

Trainer Joseph Leck’s first ‘very own’ horse paving the road towards the next generation

Honesty may well be the best policy Joseph Leck has brought to his budding training career thus far.

Truth be told, the Singaporean already channelled such a trait through a composure and maturity that belied his young age – he turns 33 on March 31 – in his media interviews, both on TV and in print.

Honesty happens to also be a befitting name to his newcomer who won on debut in Kuala Lumpur in a Class 4A (1,020m) race on March 1.

After breaking his maiden status at the last of his six Australian starts in a 1,300m race at Wyong in May 2024, the son of Per Incanto, who then went by the name of Street Magic, has franked that form at his Malaysian launch.

More pointedly, though, the two-length win also heralded a brand-new era for his trainer. Honesty is Leck’s first winner who was not a hand-me-down among his small squad of 20 horses.

Up until then, all his 24 winners at his rookie (20) and sophomore seasons (4) had hailed from other trainers, mostly from his uncle Charles, including first winner Berry Bliss at his very first day at the office on April 14, 2024.

Leck said he had been fairly bullish about a forward run from his debutant.

“He came from Australia with a decent form,” he said. “I expected a good showing even if I was worried the 1,000m would be a tad too short, but there was no 1,200m race until April.

“He would have to wait for 90 days (since the first trial), which would’ve been a bit of a stretch. So I decided to run him in that Class 4 over 1,020m, and it’s paid off.”

While Honesty has entered Leck’s scrapbook as a career milestone, quite frankly, it would mean precious little if his win-meter does not grow any further.

He gets to confirm that flying start second-up in the RM53,000 (S$15,900) Class 3 (1,020m) event at Sungai Besi on March 23, but Leck remained guarded.

On breeding and on the way the athletic type goes through the line, a 1,200m, let alone 1,400m would have been the next logical step.

“In Australia, he won over 1,300m on heavy ground. He should be even better over 1,200m and 1,400m,” said Leck, a licensee for just under a year (he got the nod on April 3, 2024).

“As he is a Per Incanto, he is also a late maturer, but I’d be more confident if the race was over 1,200m.

“Over 1,020m and from the awkward draw in barrier No. 8, it will be tougher. It also depends how the early speed pans out; if they are faster from the get-go on the inside, he may have to drop back.

“Big Bad Mama is the horse to beat if she doesn’t get hampered. She’s unbeaten over 1,020m.”

Should Honesty get beaten, and it is back to the drawing board, his smashing start will always be the gateway to Leck’s next generation of runners.

“I just bought three young horses from the New Zealand Ready To Run sale last year,” said Leck, whose other “first-owned” newbie is unraced two-year-old colt Power Projection.

“I’m looking at buying some more through the Inglis Digital sale tomorrow. I have a lot of horses who are old and have reached their mark, I need to get new blood, but it’s not easy.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have the budget of the bigger stables. I heard some owners even spent six figures on horses.

“With the current prize money level, I feel it’s not justified to spend so much on horses, but my owners and I will try our best to go shopping within our means.”

Leck, who spent 15 formative years with both his uncle in Selangor and David Kok at Kranji, is already well attuned to finding the right balance between the old and the new while being mindful how deep his pockets are.

“Last year, my target was 20 winners and I met it. This year, I’m aiming for at least 25 winners, but I need more horses,” he said.

“Berry Bliss and Gamestonks are my two class horses, but with their high ratings, they always carry the top weight. It’s even tougher since the Singapore horses moved here.

“Berry Bliss has trialled; I’m looking for a race for his comeback. Gamestonks is also back in work, but it’ll be a tough ask for both.”

Source :

Michael Lee