Ex-pat Australian jockey Danny Beasley has announced his retirement from the saddle.
Beasley, 42, has spent the best part of the past decade plying his trade in Singapore where he won six Group I races, the last of which was aboard Lim's Cruiser in the Lion City Cup earlier this year.
"I've always wanted to stop when I was in my early 40s, but I also wanted to end on my own terms, when I was still competitive, not when I was down," Beasley told the Singapore Turf Club.
"I was actually thinking of seeing out this season, but after I won the Lion City Cup with Lim's Cruiser, from a personal achievement perspective, it felt hollow. Don't get me wrong, it was a big buzz to ride a Group I winner for Mr Lim Siah Mong who has been a great supporter of mine from day one, but it's more like I've done my dues.
"That's when I knew it was a sign that I've definitely reached a stage when I probably had to go. The decision to retire has come six months early, but in saying that, I'm very comfortable with it.
"I am now 42 and I haven't been enjoying my riding in the last year or so, even if this year I was third on the log and was having a pretty good season. It was still a bit of a struggle, and in a way, that was telling me what I had envisaged, and it was happening now."
During Beasley's Australian career he's best remembered for the formidable partnership with the recently departed six time Group I winner Grand Armee.
Beasley architected the downfall of champion galloper Lonhro in his last race start in the 2004 Queen Elizabeth Stakes when Grand Armee led all of the way.
"The way Lonhro mainly gets beaten is at Moonee Valley in the Cox Plate," Beasley told the press at the time.
"So I thought I'd ride Grand Armee as if I was at Moonee Valley, not (the bigger) Randwick, and get going a long way from home and make him chase me and get him off the bridle and see what we could do.
"It worked perfectly."
Click here to watch the replay of the 2004 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The following year Grand Armee became the first horse since Tulloch in 1961 to win back-to-back Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Click here to watch the replay of the 2005 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Beasley also won the Golden Slipper aboard Polar Success in 2003 and his first Group I victory came 12 months prior aboard Victory Vein in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Beasley now moves into the next stage of his career after being granted a stable supervisor licence for Singapore-based trainer Dan Meagher.
"When Chris (Meagher's elder brother) went back to Australia to take over from his father (John) who is retiring soon, it suddenly opened a door," he said.
"Dan thought about me as he knew I was over riding, but he told me to take a break and see whether the fire would come back. I went to Europe with my family for three weeks.
"I did watch a couple of replays for a few of Dan's horses, but I didn't miss it one day. I knew I had made up my mind.
"It's funny because I do love riding, but if I had my way, I would prefer not to ride anymore, as I'm really over riding, but Dan still wants me to ride a couple of horses in trackwork and barrier trials.
"Working for Dan is also great as he's a very good friend, it's so interesting as we learn from each other even if he's almost half my age, and we do knock heads at times.
"He's also part of a dynasty that took me as part of the family here in Singapore, and his dad John has been the biggest influence on my career.
"The Singapore Turf Club has also been supportive of my plan to apply for a stable supervisor licence. I've had some rough times in my last two years, but the club has been nothing but outstanding. Singapore is home to me now."
