SINGAPORE,  6 December 2007

After nine years in Malaysia, trainer Leslie Khoo is "going home".

After hanging up his boots, the former top-ranked jockey became assistant trainer in 1999 and two years later was granted stables in Ipoh where he has been based since.

The Singaporean has been granted 35 stables by the Singapore Turf Club from Jan 1 and will take with him about 10 horses currently in his yards to Kranji.

"I'm happy my wish to set up stables at Kranji has finally come true. Let me take this opportunity to thank the Singapore Turf Club for giving me this break, and also the Perak Turf Club for all their support during my stay in Ipoh these past six years," said Khoo.

In his days in the saddle, Khoo captured 15 Cup races including the Tunku Gold Cup four times and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor twice each.

As a trainer, he did not have to wait long for his first winner, scoring with his second runner UNITED TYCOON in 2001. Since then, he has featured prominently in the trainer's table with a career best 33 winners in 2003. He returned the same haul last year.

"The competition at Kranji is quite keen but I'm up for the challenge," he said.