Beasley made the announcement in Singapore this week, bringing an end to a stellar 25-year career in the saddle.

Beasley, 42, will stay in Singapore where he has accepted the position of stable foreman for trainer Daniel Meagher.

Beasley finishes with more than 1500 career winners. He rode 14 group one winners in Australia, his biggest being seven days apart in 2003 with Polar Success in the Golden Slipper and Grand Armee in the Doncaster Handicap.

He rode a further six group ones in Singapore.

Beasley said the time was right to make the change.

“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 Singapore Turf Club’s Michael Lee.

“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 1 winner for Mr Lim Siah Mong who has been a great supporter of mine from Day 1, 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.

“I’ve been in racing for 25 years of my life, and I knew I would never walk away from racing. I didn’t know what it would be, but if the opportunity came, I had to be young enough to do something, whether it’s training or something else, and not at an age when I had run out of time

“In a way, it’s a lot like my good friend Mark Newnham who retired as a jockey when he was 42 to join Gai Waterhouse, and is now a successful trainer in his own right.”