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Trainer Jason Ong is all but certain to go home with his first Singapore champion trainer title this year after the 12-race meeting wraps up the 2023 season this Saturday.

Currently on 66 wins, the Singaporean handler is 11 clear of his closest rival Tim Fitzsimmons, but as the 2022 champion trainer only nominated 12 horses in eight races, the trainers' race is mathematically done and dusted.

It is quite an achievement for the son of prominent horse owner Ong Boon Hin of the Warplan Racing Stable, who only became a trainer in his own rights in September 2019 after he took over a string of horses from mentor and ex-Kranji trainer, Bruce Marsh.

He bagged seven winners in 2019, followed by 18 in his first full season in 2020, before Ong cracked the top ten in 2021 with 26 wins and finished eighth on the trainers' log.

He went on to finish a credible fifth in 2022 on 33 wins. Meanwhile, the stable was improving weekly and new owners started to take notice, so after knocking in winners regularly in early 2023, Ong dared to dream and the results continued.

Horses such as Major King – who won four races before the halfway mark in 2023 - kept the stable's winning tally ticking over on a regular basis and the dream became a realistic goal when Ong was well entrenched in the top two or three positions by July.

The battle with his good friend, Fitzsimmons over the final months was well-documented, but every time the Australian conditioner fired a shot, Ong seemed to return serve with interest.

In the end, it was Fitzsimmons - who won a similar a battle over trainer Donna Logan last year - doing the chasing late in the year. While he tried his best to keep Ong honest to the very last meeting, time simply ran out for the reigning champion.

A triumphant Ong could not be prouder of what he has achieved in the game he loves while emphasising that teamwork was the key.

"I'm definitely very proud, but it all comes down to teamwork," said Ong, fresh from a holiday with wife, Liwen and his two sons, Jarod, Owen and daughter Leia.

"My staff have been amazing and my right-hand man (stable supervisor) Eddie (Marfuruday) had been with me from the start. We know each other very well and have a common understanding.

"And also, there's the team behind my team. The farriers are very important to any stable and Paul (Summers), Jessen (Dennison) and Chris (Matts) are a big part of our success. We have a big team now, so they (the farriers) are pushed to the limit. Credit to them.

"There's also the (Singapore Turf Club) Vet department. (Deputy Head Veterinarian) Dan Shaw and his team are always on call and as you know, a horse's health is the most important thing.

"Of course, you can't win races without good horses and I have been blessed with very supportive owners from the beginning. I was lucky to get new owners this year and that has been very important to the stable's success.

"I can't mention them all (owners) but am grateful for every horse they send me."

Looking back, Ong is still amazed that a journey that started with a passion for horse racing through his family, has him where he is today.

"My father's best horse was Warplan back in the Bukit Timah days," recalled Ong.

"So it was way back then that I got the urge to be more involved in the industry. After completing my National Service, I went to Marcus Oldman College in Australia to learn about horse racing. Then, I worked for many top trainers before heading back to Singapore.

"(Multiple Group 1 winner) War Affair came about at the right time when I first dipped my toes into the local scene. They were heady days at Kranji, there were big crowds and it's a real golden era.

"I worked for (ex-Kranji trainer) Mark (Walker), (trainer) Alwin (Tan) and Bruce and I learned from all of them.

"I also feed off my fellow trainers in Singapore; Tim, Daniel (Meagher) and Ricardo (Le Grange) to name just a few. I'm still amazed it ended up here."

While he is expected to take the crown on Saturday, the modest Ong still has his mind on the job at hand - training more winners.

"On paper, it looks tough this Saturday," conceded Ong, who saddles 13 runners this week.

"I think Roda Robot  (x Mongolian Khan) is my best chance in the ($50,000) Class 4 (Division 1) race over 1800m. He needs a tempo but (jockey) TH (Teck Huat) Koh can make his own pace if he needs.

"He (Roda Robot) has won his last two (races) and four (races) since losing his maiden tag back in August. It's horses like him who helped me win the trainer's title, so it (him winning) would be a nice way to finish the year."