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Singapore representative Shafrizal Saleh earned his first point at the second heat of the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) on Wednesday.

Michael Clements' apprentice jockey finished fifth on longshot Majestic Man in the NJT National Apprentice Race Series (1800m) at Ascot, Western Australia.

Based on the points system for the annual Australian series, a fifth place is worth one point. The other placings are given points as follows; first – 7, second – 5, third – 3 and fourth – 2.

But had Shafrizal's mount not missed the kick from his wide alley, the score on the leaderboard for Singapore might have been higher.

"The horse refused to jump and stayed flat-footed at the gate. We lost around five lengths," said the Malaysian rider.

"I didn't rush him, I just let him stride along at the rear, and from the 1000m we started to catch up on the rest. He ran on very well, too bad he missed the kick, or he could have done a lot better."

Majestic Man finished only around four lengths off the winner and second favourite Picture Perfect who was ridden by Queensland's Adin Thompson.

Shafrizal said Majestic Man's trainer Roland Piercey was happy with the ride. Singapore Turf Club apprentice and claiming rider coach Matthew Pumpa accompanied Shafrizal at the first week of settling in, but had already returned to Singapore and was not on hand at Ascot.

"The trainer only told me to do my best before the race. He didn't expect him to finish that strongly," said Shafrizal.

"Ascot is a great track, but also quite tricky. It goes downhill from the 1800m, but from the 1000m, it goes uphill to the winning post.

"It's a great experience to ride at those different tracks around Australia."

Shafrizal finished 14th of 16 aboard a horse called Gee Gee Ali in the first heat in Tasmania last Wednesday.

It must be highlighted last year's runner-up on the Singapore apprentice log has had no luck at the draw thus far, with both Gee Gee Ali (100-1) and Majestic Man (30-1) starting as the rank outsiders in their respective heat.

After Tasmania collected the maximum points with Mauritian-born Ianish Luximon aboard Queen's Needs at Elwick, Hobart, it was Queensland's turn to topscore with Thompson at Ascot.

A winner of 71 races (43 in Malaysia and 28 in Singapore) all-up, the Penang-born Shafrizal is the first Singapore Turf Club-based apprentice jockey to be invited to participate in NARS as it is the first time in its 12-year history that the series has open its doors to overseas riders, with New Zealand being the other invited country.

Killing two birds with one stone, Shafrizal has also been loaned to South Australian trainer Richard Jolly throughout the four-week challenge, with the hope of picking up rides around South Australia in between the five Legs of the apprentice jockeys' series. He has not had a ride yet.

"I haven't got a ride in Adelaide yet. Mr Jolly has helped me settle in his yard and the new routine," he said.

"I ride trackwork every morning. They start at 4.30am there (compared to 6am start in Singapore), but luckily, it's not as cold as Hobart was!"

The NARS series will now move to Doomben, Queensland next Wednesday, with Sandown, Victoria on March 25, and Murray Bridge, South Australia on April 1 the last remaining heats.