PENANG,  29 December 2006

Last season's champion trainer Lee Yoke Bill, who has been left without a horse in his yards, has his licence renewed by three months from Jan 1 to March 31.

In a press statement today, the Malayan Racing Association said the licence is "for him to increase his string of horses during the three-month period".

Lee was leading the trainer's table comfortably with 48 winners when his major sponsor pulled out his entire string and he was left without a runner in the final meeting of the year in Penang.

Second-placed Frank Maynard then saddled five winners last weekend to close the gap to just one winner and looks odds-on to capture the title for the first time. The Australian has two more days to achieve the one win required as he has more second placings than Lee.