New Trainer Aloysius Finds Calling In Racing

S'porean debutant takes the helm in Malaysia after 11 years in racing industry

- Sharon Zhang

Aloysius Hamsha is the last Singaporean to have risen to the training ranks through the Kranji "school", but will kick-start his training career in Malaysia.

Before relocating to Selangor, the 40-year-old spent nine years at Kranji, where he started from scratch as a syce with the late legendary trainer Laurie Laxon in June 2014, before joining Lee Freedman, Mark Walker and, finally, Donna Logan.

With the cessation of racing in Singapore in October 2024, he moved to Malaysia to work as assistant trainer to Kuala Lumpur handler Sivan Veerapen, before receiving his trainer's licence from the Malayan Racing Association on June 17.

While other Sungai Besi-based Singaporean trainers like David Kok, Jerome Tan, Mahadi Taib and Joseph Leck - who also started as grooms - had connections in the racing world, Aloysius did not hail from a racing background, but ultimately decided on the Sport of Kings as his livelihood.

After completing his National Service (NS), the Mechanical Engineering diploma holder from Ngee Ann Polytechnic held many different jobs, and was looking for greener pastures until a mutual friend introduced him to racing.

"I worked in different jobs before racing. I was in the engineering field after my NS, then joined the shipping industry with the Port of Singapore Authority. After that, I worked at the airport," said Aloysius.