Ismadi bows out after Il years of training

Trainer Ismadi Ismail was glad to be back in the winner's circle — for one last time — at the final meeting of the 2025 Malaysian racing season, before he wraps up 11 years of his training career.

- Sharon Zhang

The Ismadi Ismail-trained Leong Ma Biscuit (Wong Kam Chong) claiming the Enrich Stakes A race (1,200m) in style in Ipoh on Dec 28.

(HEW FEE KIT)

And for good measure, he fired in a double with Leong Ma Biscuit in the highlight event, the RM30,000 (S$9,490) Enrich Stakes A race (1,200m) and outsider Magic Mandy in the Open Maiden contest (1,200m) in Ipoh on Dec 28.

The 63-year-old Malaysian, who began race-riding in 1983, was a former champion jockey and recorded several feature successes in Singapore and Malaysia before he hung up his boots in 2008.

In 11 years of training since 2014, Ismadi has had his fair share of winners, but his career highlight remains the 2016 Group 1 Perak Derby (2,400m) with Littlebitofjoy.

More recently, Ismadi also won the 2024 Perak Community Shield (1,200m) with Quicken Away.

After 42 years in the racing industry, he decided to call it quits in October.