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Newly-licensed Seelan Raj Mahendran joined an elite band of apprentices to win their very first ride when he piloted Black Quail to victory in a Class 4 – 1250m handicap at Sungei Besi here today.

For Seelan, 22, it did not matter that he had to share the win with last year's champion rider and apprentice Clyde Leck on White Peach .

Seelan tried to lead all the way on Black Quail  but White Peach, who started favourite, got up in the last stride to snatch a deadheat.

Black Quail, winner of three races in Singapore, has now picked up five wins since coming under the care of Richard Lines who is Seelan's master.

White Peach has scored six times in 23 starts. The gelding landed unraced in Singapore but did not start racing until he was shipped to Charles Leck in Kuala Lumpur.

"It was a good day," said a very modest Seelan. "The actual racing is totally different from barrier trials. And also I realized that I need to improve more on my skill, my rhythm and my fitness. It was an unexpected win. I feel happy."

"He's a hard working boy and I think he has a good future," said Lines.

On his ride on Black Quail, Lines said: "He showed good composure on the horse. He got him into a nice rhythm and didn't panic when he was challenged in the straight."

Incidentally, Black Quail also provided another apprentice Chong Kar Hoong with his maiden win in July last year, although it wasn't Chong's debut ride.