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There was no joy for Singapore Turf Club (STC) apprentice jockey Shafrizal Saleh at his first day of competition at Elwick Racecourse in Hobart, Tasmania on Wednesday, but the Malaysian lad still came away with plenty of positive lessons.
Michael Clements' apprentice jockey is representing the STC at the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS), the first time the annual contest that has thus far been contested by Australian apprentice jockeys across five states since 2008, is being open to overseas participants.
Shafrizal, who left Singapore on Monday, rode 100-1 longshot Gee Gee Ali in the first Heat, a Maiden/Class 1 race over 1600m, finishing 14th in a 16-horse field that saw Tasmania scoop the first maximum points thanks to Mauritian apprentice jockey Ianish Luximon on Queen's Needs.
The latter actually honed his craft in Singapore for more than one year with Steven Burridge before transferring to Tasmania with Spreyton trainer Adam Trinder (of Mystic Journey fame) in November. Queen's Needs turned out to be his first career winner at his 15th career ride (he had his first career ride in Tasmania on December 22), and for good measure, he capped the memorable day with a second winner aboard Silver Road for trainer John Blacker later on.
By another coincidence, Blacker supplied 2018 Singapore champion apprentice jockey Troy See with his first Tasmanian winner, Gone Girl at Longford last Wednesday. See just began a new riding career in the Apple Isle.
Shafrizal, who had STC apprentice and claiming rider coach Matthew Pumpa (pictured above with Shafrizal) railside at Hobart, said his mount (whom he was allotted by ballot), a three-year-old American filly who went into Wednesday's race with a record of 5-0-0, was still very green.
"It was her first time over 1600m. The trainer (Leon, Dean and Trent Wells) told me to give her the chance to settle where she is happy," said the Penang-born Shafrizal, who finished runner-up to reigning Singapore champion apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong last year.
"She was midfield three off the fence with cover, but she was very green. She was on and off the bit all the time.
"In the straight, there was no response already. But it was still a good experience riding at my first overseas track.
"I've never ridden on a track like this. It goes uphill from the 600m mark.
"There were Australian riders from all over the country, even the Northern Territory, and three from Hong Kong (Gary Lo, who rides in Adelaide and Peter Lui and Scarlet So, who ride in Tasmania), and of course I know Ianish. It's his first win and I'm very happy for him."
With Shafrizal not drawing the best ride on Wednesday, Pumpa was not expecting a miracle first-up, but still had nothing but ticks jotted down on his notebook after the race.
"Shafrizal had every chance, and the trainer was very happy with his ride, even though he didn't run a place," said the former Victorian jockey.
"That's the best that filly's run to-date, he said."
A winner of 71 races (43 in Malaysia and 28 in Singapore) all-up, Shafrizal flies out to Adelaide on Thursday morning. He will head to Morphettville where he will meet trainer Richard Jolly, his master throughout the NARS contest, hoping to get rides around South Australia in between the five Legs of the apprentice jockeys' series.
The next heat will take place at Ascot, Western Australia on March 11, followed by Doomben, Queensland on March 18, Victoria, Sandown, Victoria on March 25, and finally Murray Bridge, South Australia on April 1.
