SINGAPORE,  4 SepT 2009

After spending the last eight years as an assistant trainer, John O'Hara is back as a full-fledged trainer.

The Malayan Racing Association has granted him a trainer's licence for the remainder of the 2009 season together with David Kok Teik Wai, after both were granted stables by the Singapore Turf Club.

O'Hara, 46, was assistant to former champion trainer Ivan Allan from 1988 to 1992 and when the latter moved to Hong Kong, O'Hara took up a trainer's licence and held it till 2000. He was initially based in Bukit Timah, and latter moved to Penang.

O'Hara then returned to Singapore in 2001 to join Malcolm Thwaites, and latter Charles Leck as assistant trainer until now.

Kok, 36, started out as a groom in 1993. He progressed to become a stable supervisor in 2001 and was granted an assistant trainer's licence in 2005 working under Charles Leck.

Both O'Hara and Kok will fill the void created by the departure of Leck who has been disqualified two and a half years.